Prestigious Little City Invitational Golf Tournament Seeks Players, Sponsorships for June 2011 Event Supporting People with Disabilities

Trib Local : By Rick Johnson : May 19 2011

Openings for individual players and foursomes are still available for the upcoming 48th Annual Little City Invitational (LCI) Golf Tournament. The renowned event, which supports people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, takes place Monday, June 13, at Twin Orchard Country Club in Long Grove.

This year, the event gives tribute to the Little City Special Olympics Golf Team. In past years, the LCI Golf Tournament honored individuals who excelled at providing longtime support to people with disabilities including Patrick Larmon, President and CEO of Bunzl Distribution USA, Inc.; Larry Richman, President and CEO of PrivateBancorp, Inc., and The Private Bank-Chicago; and Hal Wolken, past President of AW Mendenhall and now founder and principal owner of Boom Enterprises.

Golfers will play on one of the two, 18-hole courses at Twin Orchard Country Club with a brunch before the 11:45 a.m. shotgun start, followed by special gifts, an expansive hors d’oeuvres reception, a four-star dinner and both a live and silent auction featuring opportunities to play at exclusive golf clubs.

The live auction will also feature a chance to bid on a 10,000-square-foot home that sleeps up to 12 people at the Punta Mita Resort in Mexico. The home villa includes access to the private, Jack Nicklaus-designed course at Punta Mita.

“Every year, this is one of the best – if not best – nonprofit golf tournament in Illinois, and this year will be no exception,” said Long Grove resident Ed Hockfield, who co-chairs the tournament and is also the Executive Vice President of Little City’s Board of Directors. “The Little City Invitational is a wonderful way to have some fun while at the same time helping support a great organization, and we hope many individuals and corporations will join us this year.”

The LCI Golf Tournament is one of the oldest tournaments in the nonprofit sector. Founded in 1963 by Morrie Kellman, a friend and supporter of Little City, the Morrie Kellman Award, is presented each year to a person or group who inspires support to people with disabilities.

“We feel it is very appropriate to honor the Special Olympics Golf Team from Little City at this year’s tournament,” Hockfield said. “We have some remarkable people at Little City who are also very talented athletes, and our invitational is a wonderful way to give them the honor they deserve.”

Approximately 20 men and women comprise the Little City Golf Team, which has sent 14 individual players to the Special Olympics State Golf Competition during the past four years. In 2010, the team sent five athletes to the state golf tournament, the most ever.

Players or sponsors who are interested in taking part in the tournament can visit the LCI website or contact Phyllis Shipbaugh at 847-221-7892 for more information. The entry fee is $750 per golfer.

For more details, visit www.littlecity.org/events/2011/lci/.

To support individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities, visit www.littlecity.org/support.

# For complete information, visit www.littlecity.org or contact Rick Johnson at rjohnson@littlecity.org or 847-221-7831.