Savills Studley recently raised more than $110,000 for San Miguel School Chicago at its 10th Annual Landlord Challenge Golf Tournament. The event took place at Northmoor Country Club and was hosted by Savills Studley executive vice president, John Goodman.
Goodman began the event 10 years ago, as part of Savills Studley’s commitment to bettering the community and serving the needs specifically of underprivileged children.
“The participation from the real estate community is just incredible and a true testament to our ability to make a significant difference within our community,” he said.
San Miguel School Chicago serves academically high-risk students below their grade level and who are living in the poor and violent neighborhoods of Chicago. The program helps each student to not only catch-up to their grade level, but in certain cases, students in fact excel beyond their grade level, according to event chair and senior managing director at Savills Studley, John Conerty. He is also board chairman of San Miguel School Chicago and has volunteered as a mentor with the organization for over 15 years.
“I was truly touched by the outpouring of enthusiasm and generosity that resulted from this year’s Landlord Challenge, which will contribute to providing the students of San Miguel School Chicago new hope through education, commitment and love – the three concepts the school is built around” Conerty, said. “We are honored to present San Miguel School Chicago with additional support for their remarkable cause.”
San Miguel School Chicago ensures that every student attends a quality high school and approximately 92 percent graduate from high school within four years. Approximately 80 percent attend college. Those that do not go to college either join the military or enter the work force.
Conerty also presented the check to the school’s principal/executive director, Tad Smith.
Smith said that more than a few times he was asked, “it’s for the kids, right?” as good nature in hopes of motivating a buddy to compete in one of the pay-to-play challenges, or donate winnings back to the school.
In fact, both the first and second place raffle winners – Mitch Basson of RBC Capital Markets and Matt Pistoria with the Telos Group – donated their prizes back to the charity. John Picchiotti of NAI Hiffman donated his earnings as a contest winner back to the charity as well.
Conerty and Goodman led the efforts with the help of Savills Studley’s Landlord Challenge Committee alongside Maria Jens-Kerr, who has been passionately committed to the event since its inception. Other committee members include Chris Tarzon, Patrick Brady, Peggy Conway, Eric Feinberg, Mike Mangan, Jonathan Metzl, Adam Mitchell, Loredana Perri and Rich Plonsker.
