Being a big anniversary for us we want to raise the bar. One For The Kids has enjoyed consistent growth as an organization from a few friends who wanted an excuse to get together and golf; to a booming group of successful men and women who have over the years acquired the contacts to make the unbelievable a reality. In these hard economic times many families are struggling to get by. When you add sick children and property issues to the mix, the unmanageable becomes the impossible. One For the Kids seeks to bridge this gap for one family every year.

Last year at our annual cocktail party we added new raffle features, such as the fishbowl auction. There were also large price raffle tickets with trips to Las Vegas, televisions, and best of all cash. All of that great stuff is back plus much, much more! We will again be holding the large raffle along with silent auction items and fish bowl raffles. Don’t worry ladies, this year there are a lot more items we know that you will love. We upped our game this year and found an amazing live band, so we can all dance the night away to our favorite hits. Never fear they will take requests, so start your playlist now!

We will also have wine tasting, photo booths, and amazing food and beverages, for all. We have put together a short video, so everyone will be able to see how your generous donations are being used to help those in need. Consider this year our rebirth and renewing of our commitment to raise money and enjoying ourselves while helping others. Everything is easier to do when you are having fun.

Check out our links and photo galleries to see the interesting evening we will have in store for you. Our site also has photos of the Ellie’s Make-A-Wish cuisine with Disney and much more.

Kyle and David Cuiching have two small children, Ellie who is 7 years old and Jake who is 6 years old. Before this past year, the family was largely focused on Kyle’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The medical bills alone for her daily treatment can easily reach over 2,000 dollars a month. In January of 2011, the family was dealt another devastating blow. Ellie, their oldest child, fell ill and the doctors were unsure why.

Ellie’s symptoms began as headaches, which would only hurt in the mornings. Ellie would complain of pain in her head when she woke up and Kyle would keep her home from school. Yet, by the afternoons Ellie was out of bed and playing. Kyle thought maybe Ellie was having problems with friends at school and was just pretending to be sick, so she could stay home. Since this is a common situation with children, Kyle would try her best to get Ellie up and out to school.

When the complaints seemed to become more frequent and Ellie began to look very tired and affected by these pains, Kyle took her to their family practitioner. The physician recommended that they get an immediate CAT scan that day. The scan uncovered their worst fears; Ellie had a tumor. A day after bringing Ellie to her physician, she was at Children’s Hospital for a nine-hour surgery. The tumor was the largest the operating doctor had ever performed surgery on and it took up over half of her brain. It was the obviously cause of her headaches.

The surgical team was able to remove about half of the tumor in the first surgery. A few days later they went back in to remove the rest. Unfortunately two percent of the tumor was not removable due to its location. In the last few months they have discovered that Ellie is in need of 12 more months of chemotherapy, since the tumor is fast growing and has returned. She has recently also gone in for a third surgery to remove the new growth; a racquetball sized tumor.

These devastating circumstances alone would crush even the strongest of person’s spirits. Yet, this is merely the beginning of their tragic story. Ellie’s mother Kyle, who has MS, has had to forgo treatment lately due to medical costs for Ellie’s surgeries. They fear Ellie will reach her life-time deductible on David’s (her father’s) health insurance plan soon. This means they will have to begin paying much of the costs out of pocket. As it stands they have spent over five hundred thousand dollars on surgery and have gone into over one hundred thousand dollars in debt due to medical bills.

In recent months their son Jake has been experiencing some trouble coping and has been diagnosed with sensory integration. This is a neurological disorder that affects his ability to deal with change. This is often seen in autistic children, but Jake has not been diagnosed with autism. He is very sensitive to transitions, which makes even the simplest daily tasks, such as going to school, a very real struggle.

The family also bought a new house recently. Only to find out the lot is positioned in such a way that the garage and living room floods during thunder storms. This has led to a large mold problem and the living room is no longer inhabitable. David has extreme allergies to mold and it causes his eyes to become very swollen. The living room had to be sectioned off and divided from the home using plastic tarps to keep the mold from circulating.

Every time it rains, Kyle and David have to hurry outside and stack up sand bags around their driveway to make sure the flooding does not get too bad. Being on a tight budget, they saw this new home as a blessing. It was on sale for an affordable price in a nice part of Lemont, but and the previous owner disclosed nothing about the flooding issue to them. One For the Kids as been looking into legal options for the family to obtain some means to fix their home problems.

This Cuiching Family is in much need of our help and support this year. As it is our 20th anniversary year, we would like to do more now, then ever before. One For the Kids has set goals in an effort to up the anti for this family and really take some financial burden from them. Ellie and her family have been receiving a lot of support from the Lemont community and we are striving to make this impact even larger by branching out to our friends around Chicago to spread the word. Every family has its struggles, some more than others. This is true. As a community members and an organization, it is our mission and duty to help those that can no longer carry the load alone. This family’s story has touched our hearts and gotten us all motivated to raise some money and help a little girl and her family. We hope you feel the same way.

For ways you can help visit our cocktail party link. Tickets are for sale now as well as raffle tickets to win prizes at the event. Donations are welcome and sponsorships are available at all different financial levels.

Hugh McLaughlin is a founding member of One For the Kids and has been an active member for over 20 years. He fondly remembers the groups beginning as a small group of friends just looking to help. “We had humble beginnings, but the group really enjoyed spending time together and more importantly we learned that we had an opportunity to help others along the way. “ He considers this combination of fun and genuine wanting to help as the equation for their 20 years of success as a charity.

Looking back over the last 20 years Hugh says one thing continues to drive him, “ The smiles on the face of the Special Olympics Athletes as we tee off on hole #1 of the annual golf outing, as all the participants watch and applaud. It’s the single best sight of the outing year after year.” This and several other factors play into each and every board members personal relationship with One For The Kids. Sometimes while doing good you also receive amazing opportunities. One year Hugh received a big surprise just for showing up to the golf outing.

“I was walking in the parking lot of the golf course prior to the event and a car pulled up next to me and the driver asked “are you on the golf committee?” I replied “yes” and the next thing I know Johnny Lattner, the 1953 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame is handing THE Heisman trophy to me to carry into the clubhouse. After the outing, Mr. Lattner let us use the trophy for a week or two until his next scheduled public appearance. We had a blast parading around with the trophy on the Southside.”

As the organization continues to grow it takes on more charities and causes along the way. Hope Children’s Hospital has been a long time benefactor of One For The Kids events. Many board members have intimate connections with the charities they work so hard to donate to; Hugh Mclaughlin is no exception to this rule. When his daughter Grace was born she ended up spending 2 months at Hope Children’s Hospital, to under go two separate heart surgeries. Grace is now 14 years old and doing great, thanks to the care she received at Hope Children’s hospital. “ Its an honor to be a part of an organization that gives back to all of our charities and Hope in particular” Hugh explained when asked how he felt about One For The Kids over the years.

As many of the board members agree, the main goal for Hugh is to help One For the Kids to continue to grow and flourish. Hugh also wanted to thank the board “I want to thank all the board members who have picked up extra duties on my behalf, I moved to Wisconsin 12 years ago and I am still able to participate on this board because of their efforts. In case anyone is wondering, I am still a fan of DA BEARS! Although the last 20 years have seen many changes in location, attire, and hair lines; one thing remains the same the commitment to the cause and the friendship that helped it all begin.

Since Auto Nation’s founding in 1996, when entrepreneur H. Wayne Huizenga invested in a waste management company, the company has experienced growth year after year. In that time, Auto Nation has acquired more than 300 new vehicle franchises. This has positioned them as the first nationwide auto dealer in the United States, as well as the first to go public. Today, the Auto Nation is the largest, pure-play automotive retail company in America.

Auto Nation has continues to receive rewards for its inception due to its overwhelming commitment to its customers. Fortune Magazine named them several times over “Most Admired Retailer.” Paralleling their commitment to customer service is also a dedication and commitment to their community. The following excerpt from the Auto Nation website exemplifies their community philosophy:

“We believe in giving back to the markets we serve through community outreach efforts geared at making us good neighbors. We are committed to helping communities become better places to live. We support local community efforts that focus on the health and welfare of the family with special emphasis on the education and safety of children. “

Auto Nation’s involvement is not limited to tag lines, but includes sponsoring groups like: Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Give Kids the World, and One For The Kids. Whether it’s through cash donations, event sponsorship, material donations, or volunteering Auto Nation has been closely involved in One For The Kids growth. At one time, donations made by Auto Nation accounted for a large part of the budget for One For The Kids annual events, which has grown substantially in the last 20 years. Looking back on One For The Kids’ humble beginnings, it’s not hard to see the debt of gratitude owed to our great sponsors. Thank you.

Two Lemont residents with a big sense of community are hoping to help a neighbor later this spring.

Dan Irwin and Kevin Kickels, board members with the local charity group “One for the Kids”, were the brains behind the organization’s decision to benefit a Lemont family with its annual cocktail party fundraiser April 28. That family is the Cuiching family, whose 7-year-old daughter Ellie has been fighting a brain tumor for the past year.

For Irwin, Ellie’s story hit his heart.

“I was getting choked up (hearing the story) and thinking about my own daughters,” Irwin said. “I have three kids that have it pretty well and not everyone does. That’s the reason I got involved (with One for the Kids).”

Each year, an Illinois family is chosen for the organization’s annual cocktail party fundraiser. Irwin decided to nominate the Cuiching family for the organization’s fundraiser this year, scheduled for April 28 in Oak Brook.

One for the Kids was launched in 1993 by seven men who wanted to start an organization focused on children’s charities, Irwin said. The organization donates annually to Special Olympics, Special Children’s Charities of Chicago, Benton House Community and the Heart Institute for Children.

Irwin said he is hoping the April 28 party will raise $40,000 to $50,000, which would be double the amount they have received in past fundraisers.

And for the Cuichings, the help could not come at a better time.

While already swamped with rising medical costs for Ellie’s treatment — and insurance claims nearing the family’s maximum lifetime coverage — the family was dealt another challenge late last year when their home flooded, later causing a build-up of mold in the house.

In addition to helping the family with the medical bills, Irwin and Kickels and are hoping some local tradesmen can pull together to help rebuild the Cuiching’s family room, which has suffered the most from the flooding.

“The excitement is not only raising funds but getting help from other companies,” Irwin said. “Landscapers can help, construction companies can rip out walls and make the room free of water issues.”

“We have closed the family room from the kids,” Ellie’s mother, Kyle Cuiching said, adding that they just don’t have the money to repair the family room. “I stay awake at night wondering how we are going to do it.”

Ellie was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year ago after she began complaining of bad headaches. It turned out to be a brain tumor that was covering the right half of her brain.

Days later, Ellie later underwent a nine-hour surgery, although doctors were only able to remove about half the tumor. One neurosurgeon that operated on Ellie said it was the largest tumor on which he had ever operated.

A few days after the surgery, Ellie was in surgery again, and the doctors were able to remove 98 percent of the tumor.

Today, Ellie, now 7, continues to fight for her life.

She began a 60-week chemotherapy treatment last February. On Sept. 27, Ellie went in for a third surgery.

A portion of the tumor remains wrapped around an artery and if removed, could cause her to have a stroke, Kyle said. Another portion is on her brain stem and can’t be removed because it could cause more damage.

“This is lifelong,” Kyle said last month. “Who knows how long her life will actually be. I don’t know her life expectancy. (The tumor) is so rare and she’s so young to have this tumor.”

Still, little Ellie, who has some memory loss and has difficulty learning, goes to school three hours a day. She also is in speech therapy and has a tutor come to the house a couple times a week.

To continue fighting every day for her family’s health, Kyle looks for fundraisers or any help she can receive.

“We know we will hit our lifetime max with the insurance company before her lifetime is up,” Kyle said. “It’s a big challenge keeping afloat when your child could be dying.”

To help the Cuiching family stay afloat, Kickels said the money from the fundraiser can be used to pay medical bills and may also be able to help the family work on their home to remove the mold from the family room and prevent flooding in the future.

“The biggest thing is to get involved and help the family,” Kickels said.

Posted Dec 27, 2011 @ 01:17 PM

What started out as bad headaches for young Ellie Cuiching in January turned out to be a brain tumor that covered the right half of her brain.

Ellie’s parents, Kyle and David, hoped and prayed for their then 6-year-old daughter when she went into surgery on Jan. 5 at Children’s Memorial Hospital. The surgery lasted nine hours, although doctors were only able to remove about half the tumor.

“(The doctor) showed us the scans of Ellie’s brain and the tumor covered the right half of her brain and was pushing the left side (of her brain),” Kyle said earlier this year. “It was filling with ventricular fluids. If we had waited any longer (to take her to the doctor) her brain would have filled with fluid.”

One neurosurgeon that operated on Ellie said it was the largest tumor on which he had ever operated.

A few days after the surgery, Ellie was in surgery again, and the doctors were able to remove 98 percent of the tumor.

“That 2 percent left was attached to critical parts of her brain,” Kyle said.

Scars from her surgery were mostly hidden beneath her hair but the right side of her face was paralyzed due to a seizure.

Behaviorally, Kyle said her daughter’s personality has changed because of the anti-seizure medication.

“She used to be the sweetest and kindest, most enjoyable child and it’s very hard to get a hug from her now,” Kyle said in January.

Due to the enormous medical bills, the Cuiching family held a fundraiser on Feb. 11, “Hearts & Love for Ellie” that was hosted at “…this must be The Place.”

The fundraiser for Ellie raised around $30,000 to help pay for the first of many bills her parents will receive.

“We have a long way to go, but it was amazing the support Lemont, friends and family gave us,” Kyle said in February. “It was very uplifting.”

Ellie continues the fight for her life

Eleven months after being diagnosed, Ellie Cuiching, now 7, is still fighting for her life.

After her second surgery in February, Ellie began a 60-week chemotherapy treatment. Ellie’s mom, Kyle, said the chemotherapy did not work and at the beginning of September the tumor was growing.

“Initially it was like a cantaloupe,” Kyle said. “In September it was the size of a lime. People looked at the scan and said it’s a miracle she is walking and talking with that size tumor.”

On Sept. 27, the Cuiching family went in for a third surgery, and Ellie is now back on chemotherapy treatments. A portion of the tumor remains wrapped around an artery and if removed, could cause her to have a stroke. Another portion remains on her brain stem that can’t be removed because it could cause more damage.

“This is lifelong,” Kyle said. “Who knows how long her life will actually be. I don’t know her life expectancy. (The tumor) is so rare and she’s so young to have this tumor.”

Doctors told Kyle this size tumor is normally seen in people in their teens or older.

Kyle said Ellie is beginning to get back some function and feeling in her face since the seizure in January.

Kyle said Ellie is going to Oakwood School for three hours a day, going to speech therapy and having a tutor come to the house a couple times a week.

Ellie has lost some of her memory and has difficulty learning, she added.

To help take their minds off Ellie’s tumor and have a little vacation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is sending the family on a DreamWorks Royal Caribbean cruise in January 2012.

Kyle continues to look for fundraisers or any help she can receive because the medical bills continue to pile up as the tumor will always be present.

“We know we will hit our lifetime max with the insurance company before her lifetime is up,” Kyle said. “It’s a big challenge keeping afloat when your child could be dying.”

In the future, Ellie might be in a wheelchair depending on how the doctors can remove and control the brain tumor. Kyle said radiation could be in the future if chemotherapy continues not to work.

“I want to give her everything. I hope and pray she will have a long life,” Kyle added.

The Cuiching family still has The Ellie Fund set up and is accepting any donations to help pay for medical bills. The organization, “One for the Kids” will be hosting a fundraiser for Ellie on April 28th in the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook. For more information visit www.oneforthekids.org.

Kyle also blogs at www.loveforellie.com, where she updates readers on Ellie’s condition.

Big Top Productions is one of One For the Kids most loyal sponsors providing tents and stages for the OFTK Golf Outing every year. Big Top manufactures its products right here in North Chicago. It was begun modestly, when Art Leonard working for his father’s awning company at the time, made a tent for a client; who never picked it up. He began to rent that very tent and eventually quit is job and began renting tents full-time.  Big Top has grown to become the tent provider for the Taste of Chicago and all Chicago Festivals for the last 20 years.

Big Top is no stranger to charity; they are also partnered with Special Children’s Charities to provide tents for the Polar Plunge at North Ave Beach, the Anniversary event at Soldier Field and countless other events. Big Top General Manager Brian Mohrmann’s only complaint about our Golfing Outing is, "That it is always scheduled on the same week as the Air and Water Show, so I have been unable to join in the fun. I always hear stories afterwards that make me sad I didn’t make it.”  Biran has made it to the cocktail party though!

Tim Smith has been a member of One For The Kids from the very beginning, almost twenty years. He joined the board of Special Children’s Charities along with a few friends and soon decided to expand and create their own charity.“ We were right out of college with a lot of time and a lot of energy.” Says Smith when asked how OFTK began. The small group partnered with Special Children’s Charities then expanded to include Benton House and Hope Children’s Hospital.

Looking back over the last 20 years Tim reflected on his favorite OFTK memories and events. “ The Dizzy Bat Hole, our second year of the golf outing was quite an experiment. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, men spinning around a bat then trying to golf. Needless to say we only did that one year.” As the organization expands this yearly tradition has become a staple on the calendar of many. “It is the one time a year I see some of these people, it’s like a big family reunion.”

Looking toward the future Tim predicts more growth for the organization and the addition of a new generation to carry on traditions. “We started with a shoe string budget and now we supply a lot of money to people who need it.” With several new additions and resources the 20^th Anniversary is posed to be great.

Benton House Community Center is one of three partner charities that benefit from One For The Kids fundraising efforts. This is first in an ongoing series of articles highlighting the good works of our partners.

Benton House is a historical community center in the South side neighborhood of Bridgeport. Its doors have been open to the community for over 100 years, always serving children from the very beginning.  The neighborhoods working class demographic has lead to an ever-changing landscape of needs. Benton House has always taken on the challenges and evolves with the community.

Benton House boasts a food pantry that serves over 1,000 families in Bridgeport, which is close to 1/3 of all families in the neighborhood. They also have several after school programs run by outside groups and Benton House staff.  Youth Technology Coor has their main office in Benton House and teaches amazing computer classes for children and teenagers. Sound Alternative another non-profit organization teaching children to use all equipment needed in music production. Right now Sound Alternative is building a recording studio on site, where classes will learn to produce records and earn income from studio rentals.

In recent news the Benton House Community Garden has gotten the permission of the Alderman to expand to various city owned empty lots in the neighborhood.  This will lead to the addition of more fresh produce in the food pantry and sustainable living choices for the neighborhood. Just this past month the Benton House Gym hosted its annual Halloween Carnival with benefit concerts, traditional carnival games, costume exchange, face painting, and tick or treating for all ages. Private ghost tours were also given to large group by Benton House’s token story teller, Director Mark Lennon. All proceeds have gone to expanding the after school programming as well as updating the computer lab.

Thanks to the generous denotations from One For the Kids and charities like it, Benton House will stay open for many years to come. Always reaching out to help those who cannot help themselves.

Long time board member Pat O’Flaherty was honored for his years of service in the Pre- Tournament Ceremony. Pat is largely responsible for keeping everyone “hydrated” on the course as he works for Anheuser Busch (he’s undoubtedly one of our more popular board members.) After the quick ceremony, golfers were sent out on the course filled with themed holes, prizes and lots of fun. It was a day full of charity, but as usual, it was one filled with laughs and entertainment. This year’s themed holes ranged from the favorite “Hawaiian Tiki Bar” to the “Putting with the Hangover” hole, based on the popular movie (think miniature golf with “Fat Jesus.”) As the day come to a close, guests were greeted at the end of the course with live music from Sun Fallen and a raffle drawing to win a trip to Vegas. We also launched the first ever “Super Raffle” and it sold out quickly! You could see that everyone was tired from the day, but also proud for helping so many children with their donations.

As we venture into our 20th year, One For The Kids is refocusing our efforts to continue to be a place where giving is fun and donations reach those who need it most. Seeing all the happy faces at this year’s outing only reminds of us of why we are all here; it truly was a great time for a great cause!

Thanks to our sponsors, golfers and volunteers. We couldn’t do it without you! Happy Holidays!