Gamechanger banquet raises money for NubAbility
ELKVILLE - Approximately 300 people purchased tickets Saturday for the Second Annual Game Changer Benefit and Honors ceremony, a fundraiser for the NubAbility Athletics Foundation, held at the Route 51 Brewing Company south of Elkville.
According to co-founders Sam and Jana Kuhnert, the goal was to raise $50,000 at the benefit so that another 100 children would have all their expenses paid for them at the summer camp in Du Quoin, July 18-21.
"We haven't finished counting everything yet, but I think we've made our goal," Sam Kuhnert said. "That money includes camp registrations and sponsorships."
Kuhnert explained that 230 children attended last year's limb-different summer camp and that the hope is to increase the numbers each year.
"We already have 98 limb-different kids registered and 33 of their siblings," he said. "And that does not include the scholarships we will be awarding to 100 additional kids. Plus, a lot of families wait til May or so before registering. I think we're going to be well the 230 figure we had last year.
At Saturday's event, there was plenty of food and drinks, games, including mouse races, raffles, merchandise sales and a silent auction with dozens of high-end donated gifts.
River Radio General Manager Steve Falat served as the master of ceremonies. Auctioneer was Steve McGriff and SIU Athletic Director Jerry Kill was the featured guest speaker. Kill spoke abut how life-changing it was for him to experience the NubAbility summer camp last year for the first time. Kill then enlisted the support of SIU athletes to lend an assist where needed.
"If we could get our whole country to do what your volunteers do, we'd have a helluva lot better country," Kill said to a roar of applause. "You're helping people. You're changing lives of kids from all over the world. You're doing great work. Keep reaching out and doing what you're doing."
Kill added that NubAbility athletes taught him and his SIU athletes a valuable lesson.
"They taught us much more than what we could teach them," he said.
Recognized with special awards Saturday by the organization were: Triston Weis of Du Quoin, the Game Changer Middle School Athlete of the Year; Christian Trexler, the Game Changer High School Athlete of the Year from Egyptian High School; Chad Cruthis, the Game Changer Educator of the Year from Lebanon High School; and Jacob Emling, the Game Changer Coach of the Year from Elverado High School.
In brief as described in the ceremony, Weis is a high-honor student at DMS and intricate role athlete who goes above and beyond to make everyone around him better.
Trexler does not live with his birthparents and his grandfather passed away during the middle of the basketball season. Despite his obstacles, Christian maintained his grades, is a member of the Beta Club and led his team to 21 wins this past season. He also won the Class 1A state championship 3-point shooting contest.
Cruthis was recognized for donating a kidney to his 14-year-old son, Jackson, while still serving as Lebanon High School's athletic director, girls basketball coach and health and physical education instructor.
Emling was honored for leading the boys' basketball team at Elverado to back-to-back winning seasons at the school. Moreover, he has pushed community service with his players, instilling a sense of pride in the work that they do.