Philanthropy spotlight highlights an organization that is making a difference within the community.
Its very easy to see an athlete or their spouse in Chicago and immediately attribute certain negative qualities especially when some are undeservedly treated like kings in this city.
The opposite can be said about Charles Tillman who, along with his wife Jacqueline(Jackie) established the Charles Tillman Cornerstone “33” foundation. I became aware of the organization after reading about their recent contribution to a local west side hospital children’s area. Wanting to know a bit more about the organization I attended a recent bowling fundraiser.
On Thursday June 7 Cornerstone 33 foundation held a fundraiser at Kings Lane in Rosemont. The bowling fundraiser paired some present and past Chicago Bears(football) and Chicago sky(basketball) athletes with teams of sponsors. The event itself was packed, with most of the media in attendance focusing on the male athletes and the wife’s hanging back. As the saying goes, behind every great man is an equally greater woman, I opted to speak with Jackie Tillman. Mrs. Tillman said they started this foundation because their daughter was diagnosed with a serious heart condition and subsequently received a heart transplant. The Tillman’s are very involved in the whole process of the organizations and they meet and talk to a lot of families, some going through what they went through.
The Charles Tillman Foundation, along with Fifth Third bank, recently donated lockers filled with iPads, notebook computers, DVD players, and gaming systems to help the children pass the time while undergoing treatment or recovering at Rush University Medical Center’s children’s hospital. They’ve done this with almost every hospital in the area. Being sick in the hospital is no fun and they want the kids to feel some form of normalcy and distraction while there. Mrs. Tillman shared with me that they lived at Children’s Hospital(Lincoln Park) for four months during their daughters hospitalization so they can relate to what these families go through.
They are looking to grow the “Charles Locker” initiative not just locally but nationally and are currently working with a Children’s hospital in Forth Worth, Texas. They chose Froth Worth because both of their dads were in the army and that’s where they met.
She is realy excited for the newAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital to open. When asked how she juggles being a wife, mother and philanthropist, Mrs. Tillman acknowledge she has amazing support and the cause itself is very important to her and it means a lot to their family .
The bowling fundraiser at Kings Lanes Lounge & Sports was a SOLD OUT success! A check for $160,000 was presented to Mr. Tillman and his organization from Meijer and Kings Lane Lounge & Sports, The team captains included: Mr. Tillman, Major Wright(Chicago Bears), Rashied Davies(Detroit Lions,former Bear), Gabe Carimi(Chicago Bears)< Alex Brown(former Bear), Sylvia Fowles(Chicago Sky). Teams consisted of Sierra realty, ULINE, Fifth Third bank, Navistar, Meijer, Miller Coors, Greyfield Legacies and Geneca
