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North Suburban Special Recreation Foundation hosts bowling fundraiser
Northwester University Wildcat basketball player Reggie Hearn, Fort Wayne, Ind., NSSRA staff Eric Santiaguillo, Wheeling, Mike Patton, Deerfield Fire Department, NSSRA staff Carrie Bailey, Chicago, NSSRA staff Katie Bonifazi, Palatine, NSSRA staff Joe Gerber, Deerfield. | Contributed photo
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Updated: September 10, 2012 6:10AM
DEERFIELD — The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation, supporting the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, the local organization that provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children and adults with disabilities living in its partner communities, hosted its first bowling tournament fundraiser, “Strikes for NSSRA,” on July 22 at Brunswick Zone in Deerfield.
More than 120 people attended, including “celebrity bowlers” from the Northwestern University’s Wildcat Basketball Team and two firefighters from the Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District. Bowlers of all ages and abilities decked in special “Strikes” T-shirts created for the day had lunch, a silent auction and an award ceremony. Ron Lobert, a NSSRF supporter, was the high scorer of the day and NSSRA staff member Katie Bonifazi scored the most strikes.
“What a wonderful way to come together as a family — our NSSRA family,” said Craig Culp, NSSRA executive director. “Participants, their family members, NSSRA staff, friends and supporters came out and had a great time together. Thanks to everyone’s amazing efforts, NSSRA will be able to accomplish so much more on behalf of its most deserving participants.”
Mishika Narula, a soon-to-be junior at Highland Park High School, was the event’s top fundraiser, raising $20,000 in support of NSSRA’s efforts. Narula was recently recognized as NSSRA’s “Friend of the Year” at NSSRA’s Shining Stars awards banquet in May 2012, having previously donated $2,000 of her proceeds from her “Power of Pops” cake pops charity, www.powerofpops.com). Inspired by her cousin with disabilities back in India and her family, which holds giving back to community in very high regard, Mishika applied her energy, entrepreneurial spirit and love of baking and turned it into an impressive donation to NSSRA through the sale of her self-made cake pops. Mishika has also volunteered her time at NSSRA.
NSSRA thanks all the participants and donors who contributed with a special note of gratitude to its generous sponsors, including Perfect Game Sponsors ($2,500 donation) the Slotnick family, the Kavanaugh family and Bank of America; King Pin Sponsors ($1,000 donation) Oak Wealth Advisors, the Medansky family, Keep on Keeping on Foundation and the La Chapelle Family Foundation; Strikes and Spares Sponsors ($500 donation) Joan Golder, Gregg and Sue Hartemayer, the Senser family, Joseph H. Goldberg Family Foundation and Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton and Taylor; and Lane Sponsors ($100) the Wilner family, Rhoda and Alan Maslov, Herb and Bonnie Horn and Oliver Wyman.
Proceeds from Strikes for NSSRA will raise money for an accessible van that NSSRA will use to transport participants to and from its programs.
