With gaming tables adorning the basketball floor where the Chicago Bulls once practiced at the Multiplex in Deerfield, craps players strived to roll the hot dice while blackjack patrons hoped some of that old Bulls luck would rub off on them at the American Brain Tumor Association’s Casino Night Bonanza.
This was the fourth annual fundraising event for the association, with proceeds benefiting the Mickey Gitlitz Memorial Fund. Gitlitz died four years ago of a brain tumor, so wife Hazel, who owns the Multiplex, donates her fitness facility for the annual event.
In a silent auction, attendees bid on more than 300 items, including the opportunity to be a Chicago Bulls ballboy/ballgirl for a night at the United Center. Yvonne Kotowicz of Lombard won that prize with a bid of $800.
At 10 p.m. the grand prize of $10,000 in a raffle was awarded to Barbara and Ken Olendzki of Arlington Heights.
But the real winner of the fundraiser was the American Brain Tumor Association. Twenty-one years ago, Manny and Susan Kramer of Highland Park, whose daughter, Stephanie, had died from the effects of a brain tumor, were among the association’s founding families.
“We looked around for information and support and found nothing,” Manny Kramer said.”It’s so painful when something like this happens. But you have two choices: You can sit and sulk or you can do something to help others not have to go through this.”
Assessing the popularity of the event, Kramer said, “We catch the young ones with the dancing. We’ve got the food court for those who like to eat. And then we’ve got the casino. Just look around; everyone is having a great time here.”
That included members of the foundation, which drew 800 people and raised more than $70,000 for research in the process.
