Armed with motorcycles and doughnuts, law enforcement officers in McHenry County will hold their first annual Donut Run to help needy children buy Christmas presents for themselves and their families.
The motorcycle ride is sponsored by McHenry County Police Charities, a non-profit group that includes every police department in the county. The ride, which is open to the public, begins at 11 a.m. Sunday at Woodstock Harley-Davidson, 1050 S. Eastwood Drive.
The doughnut run raises money for Shop with a Cop, an annual program that pairs children with police officers to buy Christmas presents, said Deputy Aimee Knop, public information officer for the McHenry County sheriff’s police and a member of the McHenry County Police Charities board.
The group also sponsors a breakfast with Santa Claus.
“McHenry County Police Charities is important to the community because it is a wonderful time for local law enforcement to have a positive experience and influence on children in the community,” Knop said. “Often children see us at times that are not so great and it’s wonderful to show them that we are caring people and support them and the community, any way we can.”
The ride will last about 1 1/2 hours. The festivities continue until 4 p.m., with free food and entertainment during and after the ride. The event also will include a police specialty-vehicle show, police canine unit demonstrations, precision motorcycle team demonstrations and child fingerprinting.
A doughnut eating contest will begin at 2 p.m.
The cost is $35 for a single rider and an additional $5 for a double rider. Donations also will be accepted. Registration forms are available at Woodstock Harley-Davidson. For information, call the sheriff department’s non-emergency number, 815-338-2144.
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FUNDRAISERS
*Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest will be held from 4:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday in Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Rd., Lake in the Hills. “Ribbers” from around the country will be featured. Funnel cakes, roasted corn and lemonade will be sold. Children’s activities will include moonwalks and face painting. Entertainment will include Chasin Mason at 9 p.m. Friday, Brian Howe at 9 p.m. Saturday and Maggie Speaks at 5 p.m. Sunday. Semifinals for the Summer Sunset Idol contest, a takeoff on “American Idol,” will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3; free for children. Proceeds will go to local charities.
*A carwash to benefit Women in Need Growing Stronger (WINGS) will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Lutheran Church of Martha and Mary, 606 W. Golf Rd., Mt. Prospect. Proceeds will benefit Project Lifeline, a mentoring program for residents and graduates of WINGS, an agency for homeless women and their children. Visit www.wingsprogram.com.
*The third annual Day at the Races to benefit Women in Need Growing Stronger (WINGS) will be held July 21 at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave. in Arlington Heights. The event will begin at noon with a silent auction, raffles and buffet lunch. Victor Pacini, an activist for domestic-violence issues, will give the keynote address. Tickets cost $75, or $600 for a table of eight. Sponsorships are available. Proceeds will help operate WINGS’ 24 apartments and homes and a domestic-violence shelter for women and children. To register, call Shaunna Burhop or Tammie Benyk of Baird & Warner at 847-818-6027 or visit www.wingsprogram.com.
* Friends of Gloria Johncours will be hold a raffle and dance from 3 to 7 p.m. July 22 in Duke O’Brien’s, 110 N. Main St. in Crystal Lake. Johncours was allegedly shot by her husband in April during a car chase through Lake in the Hills. Proceeds will go toward her medical bills and living expenses. There will be guest speakers from Home of the Sparrow and Turning Point. Members of the Rebecca McCarthy Dance studio will perform. The Libido Funk Band will play music from the 1980s and ’90s from 4 to 7 p.m. Admission is $10. Call 815-690-4422, 815-341-4616, 815-719-4647 or 815-260-3207.
*The ninth annual Wellness Challenge golf and tennis tournament will be held July 23 at Twin Orchard Country Club, 22353 N. Old McHenry Rd. in Long Grove. Check-in will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a brunch at 10:30 a.m. The golf shotgun start and tennis warm-ups will be at 11:30 a.m., and the round robin tennis tournament at 1:15 p.m. A cocktail reception will begin at 4:30 p.m. followed by dinner, awards, an auction and a raffle. The cost is $550 per golfer and $350 per tennis player. Dinner only is $100. Raffle tickets cost $100 or $500 for six. Proceeds will benefit Wellness Place, a cancer-resource center in Palatine. The registration deadline is July 16. Call Pam Reiss at 847-241-5981, or e-mail pam.reiss@wellnessplace.org.
*The seventh annual Bill Keehan Memorial Golf Open to benefit Alexian Center for Mental Health will be held at 11 a.m. Aug.10 at Randall Oaks Golf Club, 37 W. 361 Binnie Rd., West Dundee. The cost is $200, which includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch, dinner, prizes, a raffle and a silent auction. Call Maxine Goldstein at 847-952-7464 or e-mail maxine.goldstein@abnwmhc.net.
*The second annual Driver Tom golf outing and silent auction to benefit Andrew Stover will be held Aug. 11 at Rolling Knolls Country Club, 11 N. 260 Rohrssen Rd. in Elgin. Registration will begin at noon and the shotgun start at 1 p.m., followed by a cookout dinner and a silent auction. The cost is $80, which includes golf, cart, dinner and soft drinks. Dinner only is $15 for adults and $10 for children. Stover is a 6-year-old from South Elgin with mitochondrial disease, which damages cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles and kidney and the endocrine and respiratory systems. The registration deadline is July 28. Send checks payable to Andrew Stover and mail to 872 Medford Drive, South Elgin, IL 60177. For information, call Kim Stover at 847-529-8844, or e-mail gkbmns@netscape.net or DriverTom@drivertome4u.com.
VOLUNTEERS
* Learn about volunteer opportunities and how to stage the Trail of History during an orientation at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd. in Crystal Lake. The Trail of History, sponsored by the McHenry County Conservation District, focuses on frontier life in McHenry County. Costumed volunteers can learn candle-making, pioneer games and Native American skills. Non-costumed positions include greeters and groundskeepers. A meeting to help costumed volunteers prepare will be held July 12. Tours of the Trail of History will be offered to schoolchildren on Oct. 19. The event will be open to the public on Oct. 20-21. For details, call Mary Keith, the district’s volunteer coordinator, at 815-338-6223, ext.229.
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