Collegians' golf outing scores $3,700 for Aurora, Plano YMCAs

AURORA, Ill., July 5, 2007—More than $3,700 was raised at the Swinging for Students Golf Fundraiser, a golf outing by Aurora University students to benefit the YMCAs in Aurora and Plano.

The first-ever event at Fox Bend Golf Club in Oswego was coordinated by about 30 AU students in Business Golf and Sports Management classes.

Instructors Cindy Schendel and Carol Hammerle led the student project. Receiving checks at AU recently were Jeff Piontek, executive director of the Aurora Family YMCA and Jennifer Kaiser, programming director for the Fox Valley Family YMCA in Plano.

Piontek said his grant will support children’s programming at the Aurora YMCA. Kaiser said the grant to the Plano YMCA will be used to air conditioning in the gymnasium.

Carly Wade of Plano, an AU senior fitness and health promotion major, teaches gymnastics at the Plano YMCA and was among students sponsoring the benefit.

The outing featured 18 holes of golf, tee prizes and an awards dinner with a silent auction and prize raffles. Awards were presented to the top three foursomes of men, women, and coed golfers. Coed winners were Amanda Haines, Alex Haines, Dustin Robertson, and Aaron Robertson, with a 65; male winners were Justin Tugman, Todd, Perkins, Greg Lhotak and Aaron Harmon, with a 61; and female winners were Donna Davis, Nancy Demmith, Judy Cmelya and Tina Palmer, with a 72.

The outing was produced by six students in Sports Management and 24 students in Business Golf courses.

Carol Hammerle, Sports Management instructor, said, “The Aurora YMCA seeks $80,000 to fund children’s’ programs. The YMCA in Plano needs $22,000 for an air conditioning unit. Through this event we brought both YMCAs a step closer to achieving their goals.”

A second annual benefit golf outing is planned by the instructors for April 2008.

Individual and corporate donors were Aaron Harmon, Alviar’s Lawncare, Assurance Technologies, Inc., Advanced Physical Medicine of Yorkville, Aurora University baseball, football, basketball teams, B-Fitness, Becky Tugman, Blackberry Oaks Golf Course, Boughton Ridge Golf Course, Cabana Charlie’s (Sycamore), Chicago Sky WNBA team, Connie Fox, Contractor’s Equipment Service, Crown Relocations, David Johnsen, Fox Valley Family YMCA, Fox Bend Golf Course, Foxland Respiratory Consultants, Heidi Matthews, Holiday Inn Select (Naperville), Hydra Inc., Jennie and Jerry Janssen, Justin Harmon, Jennifer and Jason Buckley, Kane County Cougars, MWF Mortgage, Magic Show, Mistwood Golf Course, Northern Illinois University men’s golf team, Quick Signs, Robert Meke, R.J. O’Neil Mechanical Contractors, Shawn Green, Village Greens of Woodridge.

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