Champaign Parks Foundation hosted its fourth annual Ties & Tennies Gala last week on Thursday, September 10, and raised record-breaking proceeds for recreation scholarships. This year, the event brought in $164,000 – a 2.5% increase from the previous year. These funds will directly support the Champaign Park District and Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation scholarship programs, allowing more youth and adults to access sports, cultural arts, aquatics, and other recreation and leisure activities.
Fighting Illini Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Tyler Underwood delivered the event’s keynote speech and discussed the value of developing sportsmanship and teamwork skills at a young age through recreation programs. Underwood pointed to former Illini player Kylan Boswell’s time in Champaign Park District activities as a child and how it shaped him through his career in college basketball and now the NBA.
At the event’s awards ceremony, Donna Lawson, Champaign Park District’s Board Treasurer and Champaign Parks Foundation Treasurer, won the Champion Award. This honor recognizes an individual who has supported Park District initiatives through dedicated service, a fitting description for Lawson, who has served countless hours over the last 8 years in her role as the Treasurer.
Additionally, the Sholem family won the Newt Dodds Legacy Award, which acknowledges a donor who has supported Champaign Parks Foundation through charitable contributions. The Sholem family has supported local parks and recreation for generations, with J.J. Sholem serving on the Park Board of Commissioners from 1969-1975 and inspiring the development of an aquatic center on the city’s south end. J.J.’s children and grandchildren follow in J.J.’s footsteps through continued support of the community. Most recently, the Sholems have helped the Park District add more shade structures to Sholem Aquatic Center, renovate Clark Park, and provide free swim lessons through Project Swim.
The Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to the attendees, sponsors, and volunteers who came together to make the event possible. Their support will directly impact community members by making recreation more accessible for all.
The Champaign Park District and CU Special Recreation scholarship programs offer financial assistance for activity registration for individuals experiencing financial hardship. Both adults and youth can utilize the program to pay for activities and facility memberships. For more information, visit: https://champaignparks.org/scholarship-opportunities/
To learn more about the Champaign Parks Foundation, visit: https://champaignparks.org/about-us/foundation/
2026 Ties & Tennies Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors: GHR Engineers and Associates, Inc., The Ryle Family, & Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend
Paddle Sponsor: Body N’ Sole
Gold Sponsors: CIBM Bank, Dodds Company, Farnsworth, Fisher National Bank, Pepsi Cola Champaign-Urbana Bottling Co, & Petry-Kuhne Co
Silver Sponsors: Architectural Expressions LLP, Coldwell Banker Commercial Devonshire Realty, Commerce Bank, Cozad Asset Management Inc., Davis-Houk Mechanical Inc., Fairlawn, Harrington Law LLC, Human Kinetics, Litania Sports Group, MH CPA, Mid IL Concrete & Excavation Inc, Ramshaw Realty, Robbins Schwartz, & U of I Community Credit Union
Bronze Sponsors: Atkins Group, Sam & Maureen Banks, & INB
Copper Sponsors: PFM, Raymond James, Rector Insurance, Katie Zimmerman
Silent Auction Sponsor: Silgan Closures
Dessert Sponsor: Nothing Bundt Cakes
Broadcast Sponsor: SJ Broadcasting
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chelsea Norton
Director of Marketing & Development
Champaign Park District
217-819-3934
Chelsea.norton@champaignparks.org
