Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Chicagoland Golf Outing pledges $150,000 toward Saluki Way
05/17/2007 | 12:00:00 | Men's Basketball
May 17, 2007
By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - For 17 years, the Saluki Chicagoland Golf Outing has raised money to help Saluki Athletics. Financial assistance has gone to a wide range of projects, including the ticketing system, the baseball scoreboard, computers for the academic center and scholarships.
Now, the organizers of the event have decided to pledge the majority of the receipts for the next 10 years to help finance Saluki Way. An estimated $150,000 will go toward construction that includes a new football stadium and renovation of SIU Arena.
"It goes without saying that we need to improve facilities to continue to attract top scholar-athletes to the University," said Paul Conti, one of the founders of the golf outing. "We're trying to make a statement that it can be done."
"Saluki Way is very important going forward," said committee chairman Forrest Fairall, who graduated from Southern in 1981 and currently works as vice president of sales for food broker Durst-Insight. "We frequently go down to Carbondale for games, and it's clear that for both recruiting purposes and fan comfort, new facilities are essential."
This year's outing will take place July 27 at Chevy Chase Golf Course in Lincolnshire, and Conti expects approximately 140 participants.
"We hope the Chicagoland Golf Outing can be a model to show others throughout the country that people who love this University can make a commitment to help fund Saluki Way or the SASF (Saluki Athletic Scholarship Fund)," said Conti, who earned a bachelor's degree from SIU in 1970, an MBA in 1972, and is currently the chief assets officer for commercial claims adjuster VeriClaim Inc.
Other members of the Chicagoland Golf Outing committee include Ryan Anthony, Bob Chamberlin, Mike Davids, Nick Harkovich, Mike Kochniarczyk, George Robinson, Liz Sexson, Alfred Smith, Janice Smith, Howard Spiegel, Bryan Vagner and Rich Witt.
"This generous donation illustrates how individuals, working together, will ultimately make Saluki Way a success," said Saluki Director of Athletics Mario Moccia. "I'd like to personally thank the committee for its foresight and belief in the Saluki Athletic program. This hard-working volunteer group has done a marvelous job creating a premier special event for Saluki Athletics."
