Serving Chicago Style Foundation announces annual Rally for a Cause fundraising event
Serving Chicago Style Foundation has announced its upcoming “Rally for a Cause” fundraiser, scheduled for the morning of December 27 at Net Game in Westmont, Illinois. The foundation, established in 2024, focuses on leveraging sports to make a positive impact on youth and communities.
This year’s event will support Play Like a Champion, an organization that promotes collaboration, teamwork, and leadership among young athletes through research-based coaching and mentorship. Paddle raises during the event will also benefit the Love Like Sean Foundation and Chicago Youth Centers.
Caroline Dolehide shared her perspective on the mission: "I'm passionate about our mission because I grew up in an environment that nurtured strong habits, routines, and life lessons. From early days on community tennis courts, I learned alongside players of all ages and backgrounds. At five, high school mentors taught me how to grip my first racquet; by ten, I was helping new players by feeding balls. Playing in a community setting taught me humility, patience, and the value of teamwork-skills that shaped who I am today."
The foundation held its inaugural fundraiser last year and raised $22,000. The goal for this year is $50,000.
Serving Chicago Style Foundation describes its purpose as follows: "We are a nonprofit committed to creating opportunities that start locally and extend globally empowering individuals and communities to thrive. Our mission is to inspire youth and elevate communities through the positive power of sport, fostering collaboration, confidence, and leadership."
Community members are invited to participate in various ways including attending the event or providing sponsorships or donations. RSVP information is available at Fundraiser RSVP. Donations can also be made directly at www.carolinedolehide.com.
Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181 serves areas in DuPage and Cook counties with several schools under its jurisdiction including Clarendon Hills Middle School and Hinsdale Middle School among others (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state education data from 2020-2021 reports compiled by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), District 181 employed 282 teachers with an average salary of $94,227 before pension contributions; most teachers are women (90 percent) while men comprise 10 percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). No teacher had more than ten absences in one school year during this period (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
Demographically, students in District 181 are predominantly White at nearly seventy percent; Asian students make up over fifteen percent; Hispanic students nearly seven percent; Black students just above one percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). Per student spending was reported at $31,308 totaling over $117 million for all students served by the district during 2020 (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).
The Rally for a Cause fundraiser aims not only to raise funds but also bring together community members through activities such as pickleball matches along with prizes raffles food drinks—and opportunities for direct giving.