"Tees for Degrees" Golf Outing Supports Local Youth

Funds Raised Will Help College Bound Opportunities Reach More Students

Warm weather and sunshine greeted more than 100 golfers at Briarwood Country Club on August 19th for the 1st Annual "Tees for Degrees" golf outing to support programs for College Bound Opportunities (CBO). The outing, presented by Giordano's, netted nearly $30,000 for CBO, a local nonprofit that helps low-income youth get into college and graduate. CBO currently supports 122 area students and has helped another 22 scholars earn a college degree.

Joining the golfers on the course that day were local sports celebrities including amateur golfer Joel Hirsch and former Bears players Kevin Butler, Glen Kozlowski, Jim Morrissey, and Jim "RoboCop" Thornton. "It is a pleasure to come out to support a local organization like College Bound Opportunities," said Kozlowski. "I understand the importance of a college education and the programs offered by CBO make it possible for these kids to fulfill their dreams," he added. Kozlowski even won the 50/50 prize of $1,000 but donated it back to CBO. The outing also featured several hole activities such as a Corona tent, a Van Gogh Vodka tent, a cooling hole sponsored by Mahoney Plumbing, and a Hole-In-One contest sponsored by Autohaus. The presenting sponsor, Giordano's, even had a truck parked on the 10th hole for golfers to enjoy its signature pizza. Additional sponsors included Corona, Coyote Logistics, First Bank of Highland Park, Millennium Properties, and St. Andrew's Properties.

Funds raised at the outing will support CBO's programs including ACT Prep classes, laptops for every scholar, financial assistance, career workshops, and the one-to-one mentorships. CBO will be able to take on more students next year and help them earn a college degree because of the support from the outing. Alex Wesolowski, a CBO scholar and sophomore at the University of Illinois, spoke to the attendees about the importance of CBO to him and his fellow scholars. "My family and I can't thank CBO enough for what they have done for us," said Wesolowski. "I honestly don't think that I would be in college if it were not for the support they have given me." To learn more about CBO, go to http://cbo4success.org.

About College Bound Opportunities:

College Bound Opportunities (CBO) is a not-for-profit organization centered in the ten communities within Deerfield and Highland Park High School District 113 and Lake Forest Community High School District 115. CBO identifies high-achieving but under resourced young people who, without support, would likely forgo post-secondary education and assists them in applying to and completing college. CBO goals are achieved through a program of one-to-one mentoring between volunteers and scholars. Additional aid provided by CBO includes tutoring, training services, laptop computers, and up to $4,000 per year in financial support. Learn more at http://cbo4success.org.