CHICAGO - The FireWorks for Kids Foundation - the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire - has announced that it will host the Fifth Annual Frank Klopas Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Outing this Monday, May 9 at Cinder Ridge Golf Course in Wilmington, Illinois. Former Fire player and coach Frank Klopas is once again giving his name and support to the golf outing.
"It's been five years since we started hosting the golf outing and we've made many children happy with the money we've raised through this event," said Klopas. "I'm very proud of our ongoing efforts in the community and our work with FireWorks for Kids Foundation. I look forward to another great golf outing this year."
Celebrities who have attended in the past have included: Billy Pierce, Gene Heiser, Willy Roy, Paul Popovich, Ronnie Bull, Mike Pyle, Bill Wennington, Bob Love, and Billy Leagans. Members of the Chicago Fire team and coaching staff will be on hand for the day as well. Every foursome will golf with a celebrity in a scramble format.
This year's event, sponsored by AthletiCo, will begin with registration at 9:00 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10:00 a.m. The day will include 18 holes of golf, which will feature prizes for special contest holes, including the chance to win a car, lunch, a cocktail reception and conclude with a buffet dinner and prizes. All money raised from this event will be used to pay for scholarships to the Chicago Fire Academy.
Packages available range from $250 per golfer to $800 per foursome, and are tax deductible. Prices include green fees, cart usage, lunch, a dinner buffet, and prizes. The tournament is limited to 32 foursomes, and each foursome will golf with a Fire player or coach, T.V. or radio personality, current or retired professional athlete, or other celebrity in a best ball/scramble format.
"We are once again excited about producing the Frank Klopas Golf Outing," said FireWorks for Kids Foundation CEO Donald Ortale. "We thank Frank for lending his name to the event as well as all the celebrities and sponsors."
Klopas, a "Fire Original" who played 40 matches for the Fire from 1998-1999, is currently the head coach of the Chicago Storm of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). In his first season with the expansion Storm in 2004-05, Klopas reached unprecedented success, leading his team to a record of 18-21, with the 18 wins standing as the most by any expansion team in MISL history. Klopas also serves on the Board of Directors of the FireWorks For Kids Foundation. Klopas created this golf outing in 2001 in an effort to give back to the community and support FWFK.
Last year's golf outing raised over $30,000 and the proceeds benefited the Chicago Latin American Soccer Association (CLASA).
For more information regarding the Frank Klopas Celebrity Pro-Am Golf Outing at Cinder Ridge Golf Course, please call 312-705-7218 or e-mail jyavitz@chicago-fire.com.
