Champaign Parks Foundation is pleased to announce that its third annual Ties & Tennies Gala on September 4 raised over $160,000. This record-breaking amount exceeds the 2024 fundraiser by 60 percent. These funds will directly support the Champaign Park District and Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation scholarship programs, allowing more individuals to access Park District activities.

Fighting Illini Women’s Basketball Head Coach Shauna Green delivered the event’s keynote speech and shared inspiring words about the value of increasing access to recreation:

“I think that sports, activities, and whatever events our kids are involved in can literally transform them and can set them on a path to be successful,” said Green. “The more [kids] can be around these adults who are teaching them core values, I believe their path to achieve their dreams is a lot better… You could have the next head coach of Illinois Women’s Basketball out there. They will never know unless we give them that opportunity.”

The Foundation would like to thank the over 300 attendees, 40 sponsors, volunteers, and other supporters for their help in creating a vastly successful event and ensuring even more community members can access recreation opportunities in the coming year.

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/

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 
Chelsea Norton
Director of Marketing & Development
Champaign Park District
chelsea.norton@champaignparks.org
217-273-3943