Sissy Wheeler,foundation.luriechildrens.org/_wrappers/proam/2014/docs/historical... · The Idea—...
Transcript of Sissy Wheeler,foundation.luriechildrens.org/_wrappers/proam/2014/docs/historical... · The Idea—...
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It’s been saId that good ideas are common; what’s
uncommon are people who will work hard enough to bring them about.
Decades ago, members of the Founders’ Board and their friends had
both the vision and the resolve to create a new channel of ongoing
support for the patients and families at Children’s Memorial Hospital.
Now fifty years later, we remember and celebrate those individuals
whose hard work and generosity created the most successful annual
fundraising event in the hospital’s history. We also look forward and
are reminded of what needs to be done to ensure this time-honored
tradition of giving continues for generations to come.
The Founders’ Board scored a hole-in-one in 1961 when it introduced an innovative new fundraising venture: The Children’s Memorial Hospital Pro Amateur Golf Championship.
Pictured at one of the first tournaments are Lulu Runnells, Corky Cathcart and June Seaman.
’
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“�The�Pro�Am�is�for�the�children.�It’s�an�exceedingly��
lovely�thing�to�do,�to�give�money�to�Children’s�Memorial��
Hospital,�because�it�is�a�wonderful�organization.��
Not�only�do�our�players�have�a�very�good�time,�but�they�
also�feel�great�for�having�supported�the�hospital.”�
– Sissy Wheeler,
Pro Am founder
The Idea—A Tradition is Born
Sissy Wheeler, Corky Cathcart, Lulu Runnells and a fellow volunteer at one of the first Children’s Memorial Hospital Pro Amateur Golf Championships.
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It all started In 1960, when Polly Hutchins,
president of the Founders’ Board, asked her members to bring forward
new innovative ways to raise money for Children’s Memorial. Thankfully,
Sissy Wheeler was not shy and shared a unique idea that she had
learned about from a friend in the east—a golf tournament that pairs
amateur and professional players. Polly and the Founders’ Board
membership immediately embraced the idea. At that moment, the
Children’s Memorial Hospital Pro Amateur Golf Championship was born.
TOP LEFT Lulu Runnells, John Ames and Sally Searle.
TOP RIGHT Corky Cathcart, Harry and Sissy Wheeler and Lulu Runnells
at the 2007 event.
MIDDLE Cornelia Hasler, Sarah Armour, John Ames and Mary Kelly
at the 1966 event.
BOTTOM Irving Seaman, Jr. and Bruce Carson at the 2009 19th Hole Awards Party.
“�The�Pro�Am�is�a�wonderful�
tradition�of�giving.�Its��
longevity�and�success�is�a��
testament�to�the�generous��
spirit�of�our�community.”�
– Sarah Baine
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The first Pro Am was held on Monday,
July 31, 1961, at the Onwentsia Club in
Lake Forest, Illinois. Prominent members
of Chicago’s philanthropic and busi-
ness community filled the 150-person
amateur field, paying $500 to enjoy
a day of golf and networking on the
North Shore.
Gallery
Guests gather at the Onwentsia Club to enjoy the Pro Am festivities.
In planning the inaugural Pro Am, Sissy
Wheeler and her fellow Founders’ Board
members wisely enlisted the help
of their friend John Ames, a long-
time sup porter of the hospital and
past president of the U.S. Golf Asso-
ciation. John, and the first Founders’
Board Pro Am chairperson, June Seaman,
developed the format for what they
hoped would become an annual event.
Arnold Palmer (right) with his group of amateur players at the inaugural Pro Am in 1961.
Lee Trevino at the 1971 Pro Am
“�My�wife,�who�had�a�crush��
on�Arnold�Palmer,�wasn’t��
planning�to�come�out�and�
watch�me�play.�I�called�her��
and�said,�‘Well,�I’m�playing�
with�Palmer�today.’�So��
then�she�and�my�daughters�
rushed�to�the�course�and��
followed�me�the�last�five�holes.”�
– Peer Pedersen
Originally the tournament was held
on the Monday following the Western
Open, which allowed many PGA tour
professionals to extend their stay in the
Chicago area, play with the amateurs
and compete for the $10,000 Pro Am
purse, a relatively large sum at the time.
In its early years, the Pro Am attracted a
number of golf legends, including Arnold
Palmer, Chi Chi Rodriquez, Jack Nicklaus,
Homero Blancas, Gene Sarazen, Julius
Boros and Lee Trevino.
The Pro Am quickly became a high-
light of the Chicago social calendar
and attracted significant media inter-
est from sports and society reporters.
Hundreds of people gathered at the
Onwentsia Club to cheer on their
favorite amateur or professional player,
and to spend time with friends.
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Men’s Golf Committee—A Unique Collaboration
GeneratInG support for this new event and planning
the details of the golf outing required expertise that extended beyond the
Founders’ Board. June Seaman and the Founders’ Board could certainly
manage the administrative and organizational details of the day. How-
ever, recruiting golf professionals at the Western Open and planning the
actual tournament fell to John Ames and the Men’s Golf Committee—
a group of hardworking, golf-loving gentlemen that he recruited and led.
Leo Schoenhofen, professional Brian Allin, celebrity entertainer Bob Hope and Men’s Golf Committee founder John Ames at the 1972 Pro Am.
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Corky Cathcart, Pam Armour, June Seaman, John Ames and Sally Swift at the first-ever Pro Am in July 1961.
By all accounts, the inaugural Pro Am
was a tremendous success and raised
$65,000 for the hospital’s Free Care
Fund, designated for families who could
not afford to pay for their children’s life-
saving treatments.
We now know the impact of that first
Pro Am was much greater than the
dollars raised for the hospital. The
Founders’ Board had created an event
that tapped the talent and time of gen-
erous individuals, united the Chicago
community and sparked a tradition of
giving that would span generations of
families and raise millions of dollars for
Children’s Memorial during the next half
century and beyond.
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Onwentsia Club— The Ideal Setting
Beautiful Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Illinois, has hosted all but two of the first 50 Children’s Memorial Hospital Pro Amateur Golf Championships. Its management and
members have shown exceptional hospitality and generosity to the event since its inception.
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FIndInG the perFect course and setting for the
first Pro Am proved to be no challenge for June Seaman and John Ames,
as the Onwentsia Club’s Board of Governors unanimously approved their
request to host the event. Hubby Habjan, Head Golf Professional of the
Onwentsia Club, embraced the Pro Am from the onset and worked closely
with John Ames and the national staff of the PGA to make the event a reality.
Endless stories of thrilling victories and agonizing defeats, on and off
the course, have cemented the connection between the Onwentsia Club
and the Pro Am.
In 1966, Abbe Gardner assumed leader-
s hip of the Men’s Golf Committee and
served as chairman for an unprecedented
24 years. Under his leadership, the Pro
Am welcomed legendary entertainer Bob
Hope. Knowing that Bob Hope would
attract a large crowd, Abbe recognized
the importance of pairing him with a pro-
fessional who could handle the pressure
of playing with such a celebrity. Because
of this, Abbe made the strategic decision
to bypass the standard draw and paired
Bob Hope with professional Brian Allin.
The counsel and leadership of the Men’s
Golf Committee has been consistently dis-
played throughout the Pro Am’s 50-year
history. Through the years, the role of the
men’s committee has grown and evolved to
now include additional revenue responsi-
bilities and supplementary benefit events
like poker night parties. The collaborative
relationship between the Founders’ Board
and the Men’s Golf Committee has long
been a cornerstone of the event and it
continues to thrive today.
“�It’s�been�a�pleasure�and�
a�privilege�to�be�involved�with�
the�Pro�Am.�I’ve�served�on��
the�Men’s�Golf�Committee�for�
more�than�to�20�years�and�it’s�
been�neat�to�have�my�fingers�on�
the�pulse�of�this�event�and�help�
shape�it�for�the�next�generation.”�
– David Gorter David Gorter
Men’s Golf Committee Chairmen
Joh nAmes • 1961—1965
AbbeGAr dn er • 1966—1990
dAvi dGrumhAus • 1991—1996
stevesteers • 1997—2000
dAvi dGorter • 2001—2005
Joh nCreGAn • 2006—2007
Joh nderse • 2008—2009
Joh nFerGuson • 2010
Pro Am co-chairs Marcy Brown (left) and Jennifer Grumhaus with past Men’s Golf Committee chairman John Cregan at the 2006 Pro Am.
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The rainy day in 1962 when play was suspended (and eventually cancelled)
due to rain, and amateur and professional players took shelter in the club’s bar.
Everyone was making the most of this wet situation. In fact, Arnold Palmer was
having such a great time chatting with his “namesake” Potter Palmer and enjoy-
ing the attention of the ladies that his manager could not convince him to depart
for an earlier flight to England where he would defend his British Open title.
The look of surprise and grateful tears shed by Sarah Armour, the chairman
of the 1971 Pro Am, when Lee Trevino donated his first place prize money back to the
hospital. Lee had won the British Open the day before and, demonstrating his com-
mitment to helping children in need, flew overnight to Chicago to play in the Pro Am.
His generosity and encouraging words stunned the Founders’ Board and the crowd.
Jean Smith, who ran the Pro Am four different times, but seemed to attract
the rain. Under her wet and watchful eyes, bad weather forced the event to be
cancelled in 1978 and afternoon play was rained out in 1983. When Jean wrote the
tournament participants in 1978 offering to refund their entry fees, every player
chose to contribute them to the hospital and in 1983 all but two contributed.
Tour professional Dick Mast’s fabulous day of golf at the 1987 Pro
Am, when he set the current course record of 63.
The lucky day in 1999, when amateur player Jeff Aeder scored a hole-in-one
on #11. Aeder, the guest and teammate of Don Shoemaker, husband of Founders’
Board president, Derry Shoemaker, made a significant donation to Children’s
Memorial in gratitude for the new Mercedes he had won for his perfect shot.
The partnership established with the
Onwentsia Club in 1960 has endured
decades of memorable events. Thousands
of amateur and professional players
have trod the fairways of Onwentsia
hoping to win the coveted June Seaman
Trophy, awarded to the team with
the lowest net best ball. Only twice
in the history of the Pro Am was the
tournament venue changed, due to a
scheduling conflict and course renova-
tion, and only three times has the rain
overpowered the Onwentsia grounds
crew, resulting in the cancellation of
the tournament.
Pro Am by the Numbers• 4—Holes-in-one
• 9,900—Rounds of golf played
• 63—Lowest score, set in 1987 by professional
Dick Mast
• 1992—First female amateur competes in the Pro Am
• $12 million—Dollars raised for Children’s Memorial
TOP Robert A. Gardner III, Peter Seaman, professional Bill Vantresca and Edward Swift
LEFT Tony Hoban, Ross Jannotta and a fellow golfer
BOTTOM LEFT Andy Andress
BOTTOM RIGHT Caddie Charlie Brown and professional Charlie Bolling at the 2007 Pro Am
Who Could Forget…
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Amateur Players– Generations of Support
The Pro Am is a cherished tradition for many Chicago area families. Three generations of the Grumhaus family have taken part. Young David Grumhaus, Jr. (center) poses with his
father David Grumhaus, Sr. (second from left) and his grandfather Harold Grumhaus (right) at one of the early tournaments, along with Wally Phillips (left) and a professional golfer.
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WIth the onWentsIa club hosting the Pro Am, it was
only natural that the Lake Forest community would rally in support of the
event and Children’s Memorial. Many of the amateur players in the early
years of the tournament lived in Lake Forest and belonged to the Onwentsia
Club, but were still willing to pay the $500 entry fee to participate in
the Pro Am. It was not long before the Pro Am had a loyal set of amateur
participants who came from throughout the North Shore. In fact, when
the Founders’ Board celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Pro Am,
33 amateur players had participated in all ten events of the first decade.
The Silas S. Cathcart Award is given to the winning pair
of professionals at the Silas S. Cathcart
Children’s Memorial Club Professional
Invitation. Named in honor of
Silas Cathcart, this tournament and
award not only recognizes his love
of golf, but also his dedication to
improving healthcare in the Chicago
community. Silas was a Life Trustee
of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Children’s Memorial Hospital serves
as the pediatric teaching site of
Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine. Silas’ wife,
Corlene “Corky” Cathcart, served
as chair of the 4th Annual Pro Am
in 1964.
The Pro Am’s signature trophy is named
in honor of June Seaman, chair of the inaugural Pro Am
in 1961. The trophy is awarded to the team with
the lowest net best ball score and the names of every
winning group in the Pro Am’s history have been
engraved on the permanent trophy, which is displayed
at the Onwentsia Club.
The Hubby Habjan Award, named in honor of Onwentsia
Club’s long-time head golf
professional, is given to the
professional with the lowest
score during the Pro Am. Hubby
Habjan provided professional
support and guidance to the Pro
Am from its inception in 1961
until his retirement in 1996.
Hubby Habjan, Lulu Runnells and a golf student
June and Irving Seaman, Jr.
Awards
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1974, and his sister, Mary Gorter Krey,
was one of the first women amateurs to
compete in the event. At the 2009 Pro
Am, even Audrey Gorter found her way to
the links and joined the family foursome,
playing for the first time alongside Jim,
David and Mary.
Through its 50-year history, the Pro Am
has benefited greatly from the unwaver-
ing commitment of so many families
and individuals, and a legacy of philan-
thropy has been built. Each year, founding
members still gather at the Onwentsia
Club in June to enjoy a beautiful day of
golf for Children’s Memorial Hospital,
but today they are joined by their
children and grandchildren. The tradition
of giving continues.
Arthur Hailand, Jr., a dedicated supporter of the Pro Am, created a legacy of philanthropy within his family. Shown here with his daughter Leslie Newman, former Founders’ Board president and Pro Am co-chair; grand daughter Whitney Brown, Founders’ Board member; Lee Brown,
Men’s Golf Committee member; and his great-grand children Hale and Henry Brown.
“�We’ve�been�happy�to�be�involved�
with�the�Pro�Am�since�the�
beginning.�It’s�a�great�hospital�
and�a�great�event.”
– Robert Meers
�
“�We�enjoy�the�Pro�Am�as�a�family�
outing.�If�we,�as�a�family,�can�
play�golf�well�one�day�a�year,�we�
like�it�to�be�on�that�day.”
– F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.
Over time, the Pro Am evolved from just
a day on the course to a meaningful
tradition for many local families. For
example, a member of the Stepan family
has participated in every Pro Am since
1961 and, cumulatively, members of
their family have golfed in 119 events.
The Meers family boasts 96 years of
total participation and participation
by the Grumhaus family spans three
generations.
The Pro Am is also a family affair for the
Gorter family. David Gorter, a member
of Men’s Golf Committee, recalls living
next door to the Onwentsia Club and
spending time at the course watching his
father, James P. Gorter, play and enjoying
the Pro Am festivities. As a junior golfer,
David served as a runner delivering score-
cards from the 18th green to the scorer’s
table. David played in his first Pro Am in
The Stepan family gathers at the 2007 Pro Am. James (right) and Audrey (second from left) Gorter, their children David (left) and daughter Mary, along with Professional
Kevin Murphy, tee off at the 2009 Pro Am.
Lorna Pfaelzer, former Founders’ Board president and Pro Am co-chair, with her son-in-law Dean Patenaude, member of the Men’s Golf
Committee, and her grandson Jay at the 2009 Pro Am.
“�It’s�wonderful�to�see�the�second�
and�third�generations�all�playing��
together.�That’s�what�it’s��
all�about.�To�sustain�an�event�
like�this�you�need�continuity,��
as�well�as�new�faces,�and��
sponsorships.�I�think�the�Founders’�
Board�should�be�congratulated�
on�the�wonderful�job�they’ve�
done�year�after�year.”�
– Irving Seaman, Jr.
Chicago’s Corporate Community—Partners in Philanthropy
Pete McDonald of United Airlines presents a sponsorship check to Pat Magoon, president & CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital, at the 47th Annual Pro Am.
United has been a loyal Pro Am supporter since 1984.
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In 1970, rIsInG patIent costs forced the leaders
of the Pro Am to re-think their original event model. Without question,
the golf tournament already had tremendous support from local families,
but could the Pro Am have the same appeal in the corporate community?
John Ames and Abbe Gardner set out to answer that question. Their first
call was to Leo Schoenhofen, president of Marcor, Inc. While Leo had no
official tie to Children’s Memorial, he had been a loyal supporter of the first
ten events. With little hesitation, he generously agreed to donate the $15,000
prize money, offered to help promote the event and sell gallery tickets at
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20YeArs
John D. Ames
David Amory
Louis Meyer Brown
Edward F. Burns
Albert B. Dick, III
Richard R. Donnelley III
James P. Gorter
Alfred E. Hackbarth III
Arthur G. Hailand, Jr.
J. Ira Harris
Robert O. Lehman
Robert R. Lipsky
George J. McCarthy
Gordon S. Prussian
Alfred Stepan, Jr.
Craig Umans
Morrison Waud
Frederick F. Webster, Jr.
John A. Zenko
25YeArs
Michael Cudahy
Daniel Searle
Keene H. Addington
Robert C. Ferris
David F. Gorter
John P. Keller
Bruce M. Macfarlane
Robert Meers
Aiden I. Mullett
Robert E. Wood II
Charles Foster Brown
30YeArs
Donald B. Davidson
Donald C. Cottrell, Jr.
John D. Mabie
Henry W. Meers
Albert Meers
F. Quinn Stepan, Jr.
35YeArs
William T. Bacon, Jr.
David D. Grumhaus, Sr.
Peer Pedersen
Irving Seaman, Jr.
F. Quinn Stepan, Sr.
40YeArs
Ralph Bogan
James L. Garard
Player Anniversaries
We are privileged to recognize five of our most dedicated
families for their unending support of the Pro Am and for
their years of cumulative participation in the event.
th estepAnFAmi lY • 119 YEARS
th emeersFAmi lY • 96 YEARS
th ebrownFAmi lY • 67 YEARS
th eGorterFAmi lY • 67 YEARS
th eGrumhAusFAmi lY • 52 YEARS
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Today, more than 25 corporations,
including Stepan Company, Wintrust
Financial Corporation, Huron Consulting
Group, Navistar, Inc. and Illinois Tool
Works sponsor the event. Valuable
in-kind contributions from Terlato Wines
International, Fortune Brands, High Sierra
Sport Company and Lettuce Entertain
You enhance the experience for golfers
and offset real costs. The Pro Am has
truly united Chicago’s corporate and
philanthropic communities in support
of Children’s Memorial.
Pedersen & Houpt has served as a corporate sponsor of the Pro Am for 27 years.
all Montgomery Ward stores. Marcor
remained a sponsor of the Pro Am until
1976, when Northern Trust and Lord &
Taylor decided to provide cash gifts to
underwrite the tournament.
In 1984, Arthur Hailand, Jr., a long-time
Men’s Golf Committee and Children’s
Memorial board member, set out to
recruit United Airlines as the official Pro
Am sponsor. He, along with close friend
John Louis, entertained six United execu-
tives at the famed Augusta National
Golf Club. During their trip, Art casually
mentioned the Pro Am to the United
representatives and upon their return
to Chicago, he, June Seaman and Sissy
Wheeler formally approached United
Airlines with their request. When Sissy
received a follow-up call from United,
she was delighted to learn they would
support the event, although with one
caveat—they formally committed to
sponsoring the Pro Am for the next
three years!
Northern Trust and United Airlines have
remained loyal and generous corporate
donors to the Pro Am since their initial
investment, and many of Chicago’s top
corporations have followed their lead.
Since 2000, High Sierra Sport Company has generously provided the player gift bags that are distributed to our field
of 200 amateur golfers.
Corporate Facts• Longest-supporting corporate
sponsors: United Airlines and
Pedersen & Houpt
• Largest single corporate
contribution: $175,000 from
Huron Consulting Group (2009)
• Corporate Hole Sponsors
introduced: 1982
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The Leo H. Schoenhofen Trophy is awarded
to the amateur golfer winning the most skins during
the tournament. This award, named in memory
of Leo Schoenhofen in 1985 by his wife Emily, was
created to honor Marcor, Inc. as the Pro Am’s first
corporate donor. Today, corporate sponsors account
for more than 65% of the Pro Am’s revenue.
Long-TimeCorporate Sponsors The following corporations and foundations have served
as a sponsor of the Pro Am in at least 10 events.
u n itedAi rli n es • 27 EVENTS
pedersen&hou pt • 27 EVENTS
th enorth erntrustCompAnY • 23 EVENTS
molex i nCorporAted • 17 EVENTs
AonCorporAtion • 16 EVENTS
morGAnstAn leY • 12 EVENTS
AbbottlAborAtori es • 11 EVENTS
wAstemAnAGement • 11 EVENTS
wi ntrustFi nAnCiAlCorporAtion • 11 EVENTS
ZAdekFAmi lYFou n dAtion • 11 EVENTS
th edeerpAthGrou p • 10 EVENTS
i ll i noistoolworks • 10 EVENTS
merithomes • 10 EVENTS
reYesholdi nGs, llC • 10 EVENTS
th emacArth u rFou n dAtion • 10 EVENTS
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If you were a “regular” at the Pro Am in
the early years, you would look forward
to seeing June Seaman, Sissy Wheeler
and Lulu Runnells warmly greeting golf-
ers at the North entrance to the Club.
You would recognize Loo Lincoln, Bruce
MacFarlane, Frank Priebe, Duck Spaulding
and Bots Young, the infamous team of
Marshalls. You would remember the
“Darling Donnelleys, “Gorgeous Golfing
Gardners,” and “Adorable Addingtons,”
who launched the 1965 tournament
with an unconventional round of min-
iature golf on Nina Wilson’s front lawn.
And, you would look for John Runnells,
who volunteered at every Pro Am from
1961 until 2008.
Volunteers and community members gather to enjoy the festivities.
Founders’ Board— The Heart of the Pro Am
The Founders’ Board is a distinguished group of 155 volunteers who have played an integral role in the growth of Children’s Memorial Hospital, through active
participation in fundraising, governance, volunteerism, education and advocacy. The Pro Am is the board’s signature fundraising event, which now raises more
than a million dollars for the hospital each year.
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the pro am has alWays been about more than
just golf and dollars raised; it is about community. For the past 50 years,
the members of the Founders’ Board, the Men’s Golf Committee and
others close to Children’s Memorial have dedicated countless hours
to plan and execute every detail of the event. It is their extraordinary
hospitality and devotion that makes the Pro Am so unique and inspires
golfers, sponsors and guests to return year after year, taking part to
help the children and families served by the hospital.
Long-time Pro Am volunteers Lulu Runnells and Sissy Wheeler
As the event has evolved through the
years, the dedication of the broader
community and the Founders’ Board
members remains unchanged. Today, a
committee of nearly 30 Founders’ Board
members takes an active role in plan-
ning the Pro Am. Every person who has
been involved in the Pro Am, either as
a co-chair, a committee member or as
a volunteer, feels a great sense of pride
and privilege knowing their work has
impacted the lives of so many children.
– 22 – – 23 –
Corky Cathcart
Sarah Armour, Jane Hardy and Connie Ames
Lauren Gorter and Tricia Wood
Sarah Baine and Beth Wessel
“�The�Pro�Am�stays�dear��
to�your�heart.�I�think�all��
of�us�who�have�run�it��
or�have�been�involved�find��
it�hard�to�move�away.��
It�is�something�we�feel�strongly�
about�and�want�to�do�all��
we�can�to�carry�on�this��
tradition�and�keep�it�alive.”�
– Lauren Gorter
Carolyn Tocks, Jill Brennan and Lyn Andress
“�We�had�a�lot�of�fun.�It�was�
everybody�working�together�and�
if�anybody�had�a�good�idea,��
we�thought,�well,�we’ll�try�it!”�
– Corky Cathcart
Robin Zafirovski, Susan DePree and Molly South
“�Being�involved�with�Children’s�
is�one�of�the�most�gratifying�
things�in�the�whole�world.�
The�Founders’�Board�has�always�
been�known�as�the�heart��
and�soul�of�the�hospital.”�
– Susan DePree
– 24 –
Pro Am Impact—Transforming Lives
Art therapy is one of the many offerings of the Department of Family Services at Children’s Memorial, which receives vital funding support from the Pro Am.
– 25 –
thanks to the vIsIon, dedication and generosity of
many supporters, the Pro Am is the most successful annual fundraising
event in the hospital’s history. Cumulative proceeds from the event
total more than $12 million, which has enabled Children’s Memorial
to enhance patient care and to recruit renowned leaders in pediatric
medicine and science.
1961 • Mrs. Irving Seaman, Jr.
1962 • Mrs. Robert Taft, Jr.
1963 • Mrs. William L. Searle
1964 • Mrs. Silas S. Cathcart
1965 • Mrs. John S. Runnells
1966 • Mrs. A. Watson Armour III
1967 • Mrs. Wydham Hasler
1967 • Mrs. Frank J. Kelley III
1968 • Mrs. W. Newton Burdick, Jr.
1969 • Mrs. Chauncey Keep Hutchins
1970 • Mrs. Chauncey Keep Hutchins
1971 • Mrs. A. Watson Armour III
1972 • Mrs. Louis A. Smith
1973 • Mrs. Albert D. Williams, Jr.
1974 • Mrs. Albert D. Williams, Jr.
1975 • Mrs. Ellard Pfaelzer, Jr.
1976 • Mrs. Ellard Pfaelzer, Jr.
1977 • Mrs. O. Macrae Patterson
1978 • Mrs. Louis A. Smith
1979 • Mrs. Albert D. Williams, Jr.
1980 • Mrs. Donald B. Davidson
1981 • Mrs. Tyler R. Cain
1982 • Mrs. William A. Crane
1983 • Mrs. Louis A. Smith
1984 • Mrs. Donald B. Davidson
1985 • Mrs. Thomas J. Moorhead
1986 • Mrs. William A. Crane
1987 • Mrs. Tyler R. Cain
1988 • Mrs. Louis A. Smith
1989 • Mrs. Donald B. Davidson
1990 • Mrs. Susan T. Skinner
1991 • Mrs. C.H. Randolph Lyon
1992 • Mrs. Leslie H. Newman
1993 • Mrs. Robert T. DePree
1994 • Mrs. Richard O. Wood
1995 • Mrs. Jack W. Blumenstein
1996 • Mrs. Jack W. Blumenstein
1997 • Mrs. Charles F. Manker
1998 • Mrs. Douglas Hacker
1999 • Mrs. Jeffrey H. Wessel
2000 • Mrs. J. Christopher Reyes
2001 • Mrs. James Andress
2001 • Mrs. John Tocks
2002 • Mrs. David Gorter
2002 • Mrs. J. Gregory South
2003 • Mrs. Douglas Hacker
2003 • Mrs. John Stevenson
2004 • Mrs. J. Stephen Baine
2004 • Mrs. Mike S. Zafirovski
2005 • Mrs. Mark T. Ahern
2005 • Mrs. Richard O. Wood
2006 • Mrs. Manny A. Brown
2006 • Mrs. David Grumhaus, Jr.
2007 • Mrs. Manny A. Brown
2007 • Mrs. David Grumhaus, Jr.
2008 • Mrs. T. Sands Thompson
2008 • Mrs. Catherine Miller Dixon
2009 • Mrs. J. Gregory South
2009 • Mrs. Mike S. Zafirovski
2010 • Mrs. Manny A. Brown
2010 • Mrs. David Grumhaus, Jr.
Pro Am Co-ChairsThank you to those members of the Founders’ Board who have dedicated countless hours
of their time and talent to serve as a Chairperson of the Children’s Memorial Hospital
Pro Amateur Golf Championship.
– 26 – – 27 –
Epilepsy Care
Through an $8.5 million funding com-
mitment from the Founders’ Board, The
Children’s Memorial Epilepsy Center was
created, along with two endowed chairs
that serve to advance clinical initia-
tives and research. These chairs are held
by Leon G. Epstein, MD, The Derry A.
and Donald L. Shoemaker Professor
of Pediatric Neurology and Douglas R.
Nordli, Jr., MD, The Lorna S. and James P.
Langdon Chair of Pediatric Epilepsy. The
Founders’ Board’s support made it pos-
sible for Children’s Memorial to become
a leading center for medical innovation
and research in pediatric neurology.
Children like Sebastian have access to one of the finest pediatric cancer centers in the nation at Children’s Memorial.
Ensuring the most advanced and compassionate care for our tiniest and most fragile newborns.
Family Services
The Founders’ Board established the
Human Services Endowment for the
Department of Family Services to help
provide the extra assistance, care, ease
and enrichment that make the hospital
such a special place. As part of Heroes
for Life: Campaign for Ann & Robert H.
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago,
the Founders’ Board has committed
to raising $10 million for the hospital’s
Department of Family Services, which
aims to address the emotional, social
and developmental needs of patients
and their families.
Neonatal Care
Through a $6.5 million Founders’ Board
funding commitment, the hospital’s
Division of Neonatology, under the
leadership of Robin Steinhorn, MD,
the Raymond and Hazel Speck Berry
Professor of Neonatology, has become
one of the nation’s top centers for
the care of critically ill newborns.
Marissa (with Dr. Doug Nordli) receives outstanding care at Chil-dren’s Memorial Epilepsy Center, thanks to philanthropic support.
“�Because�of�our�partnership�
with�the�Founders’�Board�and��
events�like�the�Pro�Am,�we’ve�
been�able�to�build�one�of��
the�best�neonatology�programs,�
not�only�in�the�region,�but��
in�the�country.”�
– Robin Steinhorn, MD
Head, Division of Neonatology
Children’s Memorial Hospital
Proceeds from the Pro Am have funded these programs:
Cancer Care
The Founders’ Board established the
A. Watson and Sarah Armour Chair of
Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases to
improve care and treatment for children
with sickle cell disease, thalassemia
and other serious blood disorders. It also
established fellowships in hematology/
oncology to support outstanding young
physician-scientists whose work is
expected to have a great impact on
the health of children with cancer and
blood diseases.
– 29 –
Children are our most precious resource. Children embody the future, and by investing in their health and well-being, we impact the quality of their future
in the most positive and direct way.
In 1960, when the event founders dreamed the Pro Am, no one imagined
that their vision and the work of so many would bring us to this moment—
poised to continue this proud tradition of giving for the next 50 years and
beyond in Lurie Children’s.
thank you For your contInued support.
toGether We can dIscover neW treat-
ments, neW cures and neW hope For
chIcaGo’s chIldren and FamIlIes.
– 29 –
Looking to the Future— The Tradition Continues
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago will be the catalyst for transforming pediatric medicine and science and improving countless lives for generations to come.
– 28 –
the orIGInal Format oF the pro am was so
well-conceived that it remains largely unchanged today. However, what has
changed during the past fifty years is pediatric healthcare, which requires
more even philanthropic support to harness medical breakthroughs.
To ensure that every child receives the best healthcare available, Children's
Memorial is building a new hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospi-
tal of Chicago, opening in 2012. Located on the downtown Chicago campus
of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, this new state-of-
the-art facility will offer the latest innovations in medical technology, research
and family-centered design.
– 30 –
“�There�is�no�keener�revelation�of�a�society’s�soul�than�the�way��
in�which�it�treats�its�children.”�
– Nelson Mandela
– 30 –
“�The�city�of�Chicago�can�provide�the�best�healthcare��
anywhere,�and�Children’s�Memorial�is�one�of�the�key�reasons�
why.�With�this�new�hospital,�we�will�be�at�the�forefront��
of�care,�and�all�of�our�children�will�benefit.”�
– Richard M. Daley
Mayor of Chicago