Photo Courtesy of Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

This May 9th will mark the Children’s Hospital of Illinois’ 15th annual Score Fore Kids Golf Outing.

The event will be hosted at the Den at Fox Creek Golf Course located in Bloomington, with all the proceeds going to the Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

In its’ 15 years, the event has raised over $700,000, helping countless children and their families. 

In past years, the money raised has gone towards the hospital in general, but is now used for specific parts of the hospital. 

“We found that if we have a specific area of the hospital that we’re raising money for, people appreciate being able to see exactly where their money is going,” Kim Kaufman, Assistant Director of Donor Relations and Communications, said. “It also allows us to send donors an impact letter letting them know how they helped.”

The money being raised at this years golf outing will go towards a very important part of the hospital. 

“Proceeds will go to benefit children in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which has the smallest and sickest newborns,” Kaufman said. “Funding will go towards purchasing a sonogram machine that will allow nurses to place IVs in babies that can be as small as one or two pounds, without the use of x-ray machines. The machine helps insure the IVs are being stuck in the right place, so that the babies can get all the essential nutrients they need.”

One of the ways the event raises money is through a silent auction that will have a wide variety of items. 

“We have a 40” high definition television that was donated from Wal-Mart, Maui Jim Sunglassses, and other various things that are donated from businesses within Bloomington-Normal,” said Kaufman

Following the day of golfing will be an evening event, catered by Times Past Inn, around 5 pm where winners will be announced, hospital administrators will be on hand, and a family will be speaking about their experience with the Children’s Hospital.

“The most impactful thing about the event is having the family speak and explain their story,” Kaufman said. “Their baby, that was previously in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, just turned one and is happy and healthy. They will be speaking about their experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and with the Children’s Hospital, and how it saved their sons life.”

Those wanting to register for the golf outing can contact Mari K. Osborne at mari.Osborne@osfhealthcare.org or visit the Children’s Hospital of Illinois website at http://www.childrenshospitalofillinoisfoundation.org 

For those who can’t make the golf outing but would still like to donate can visit the hospitals’ website and donate through there.

“People can always donate and give to the kids, any amount donated can make a difference,” Kaufman said. 

Another big fundraiser is coming up for the Children’s Hospital on June 1st. They will be hosting their annual telethon on WEEK-25 from 12 till 5pm. 

“The telethon is one of our largest fundraisers for the year,” Kaufman said. “The dollars we get from it are crucial to helping the kids all year round. We really encourage people to watch, and donate to support the kids.”