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8 | August 9, 2018 | The wilmette beacon NEWS
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Wilmette Optimist Club donates golf outing funds to charity
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
The Wilmette Optimist
Club is committed
to bringing out the best in
kids by supporting local
youth agencies that benefit
all kids within New Trier
Township.
So, on a sunny July 11,
they combined fun with the
spirit of giving, by hosting
their annual charity golf
outing at the Wilmette Golf
Club, donating all funds
to the Alliance for Early
Childhood — another local
organization that operates
with youngsters in mind.
Optimist Treasurer Steve
Santacruz explained how
the Alliance first caught
their attention through their
dedication to helping the
Optimist Club.
“The Optimist Club
members believe in bringing
out the best in kids
just as the Alliance does,”
Santacruz said. “When we
were first acquainted, the
people from the Alliance,
jumped right in on many
of our events; they became
great and respected partners
of ours very quickly.
We value our relationship
with them and respect how
they keep the community
informed and up-to-date on
the most current research
and information regarding
early childhood development.”
Optimist Brad Baird was
also at the event, greeting
guests and getting folks
ready for several hours of
golf in honor of the Alliance.
Baird, was married
to a local, loved Wilmette
resident and preschool
teacher at Trinity Nursery
School, Happy Baird, who
passed away all too soon in
2015. He explained how his
Participants (left to right) Libby Joyce, Stephanie
Graves, J Steve Santacruz, Stefanie Maiuri, Amber
Farashahi, Mari Pagone-Franklin hold up a check from
The Wilmette Optimist Club at the July 11 golf outing at
Wilmette Golf Club. Photo submitted
late wife would have been
pleased to know that the
Optimist Club was supporting
the Alliance.
“[Happy] was passionate
about early childhood
development and loved
children,” Baird said. “The
Alliance stands for many
of the same things she believed,
and I know she
would have approved of us
supporting such a wonderful
organization.”
As the golf cars started
lining- up and scores of
participants headed to the
range to prep for the day,
Stefani Mairui, the new
executive director of the
Alliance, helped register
guests, while chatting with
Optimist Club members,
appreciative of their dedication
and generosity.
“The Alliance for Early
Childhood is honored to
partner with The Wilmette
Optimist Club in their Annual
Golf Outing Fundraiser
this year. Their generous
contribution will support
the healthy growth and development
of children from
birth to age eight by providing
resources, programs,
and support for the parents
and professionals who
teach and care for them.
We are grateful to The Wilmette
Optimist Club and
their strong commitment
to meeting the needs of our
youngest community members,”
Mairui said.
As the day of golf ended,
everyone was treated to
a wonderful dinner and a
presentation of a $10,000
check to the Alliance, from
the Optimist Club, ending
the day on a feel-good note
for all.