Accolade fundraiser, inspiration and disappointment

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Brian Bradtke (center) makes a run for it during last year's Chicago Polar Plunge. This year, his daughter Jessica will be joining him, to raise money for Special Olympics.

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Updated: July 19, 2011 4:35PM

‘From Tijuana to Here’

Professor lauded for scholarship

Naperville resident Luis Alberto Urrea said he is living the American Dream, which is pretty cool for the boy from Tijuana, Mexico. The University of Illinois at Chicago professor and nationally acclaimed author of 13 books recently added the title “distinguished professorship” to his resume.

“I was born in Tijuana. My dad was a custodian at bowling alleys,” said Urrea, 55. “I was the first one in my family to go to college. I feel so much joy in being able to share this stuff with my students. It ends up feeling like the American dream happening — you really can realize your dreams if you prepare yourself and get an education.”

UIC awards the title of distinguished professorship to “exceptional faculty for significant scholarship and contributions to the college and the campus, in addition to their chosen fields.” Urrea is a professor of English and teaches creative writing.

Urrea said he was “completely shocked” when he learned of the honor.

“I told them I felt guilty taking this award,” he said. “They are very kind to give me this acknowledgement.”

Urrea will present “Awakening to the World: From Tijuana to Here” when he is recognized March 10 at the UIC Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted St., Room 302. Admission is free and open to the public. Call 312-996-4687.

Joy Ride

Go-kart race raises $50,000 for PADS

It proved to be a joy ride when Continental Motors Group of Naperville and Chicago Indoor Racing teamed up to raise money for DuPage PADS.

Last weekend, 18 teams of drivers participated in the first Race to End Homelessness, a six-hour charity go-kart race to benefit DuPage PADS. And when the goal of the race is to raise funds to end homelessness in DuPage County, everyone wins.

Brian Dopp, director of enthusiast programs at Chicago Indoor Racing, said the race was a “huge success” long before it started.

“To commemorate the 25th anniversary of DuPage PADS, the goal was for the teams to raise $25,000 to support programs that provide housing, job training, and other support services to assist men, women and children who are homeless,” Dopp said. “As the race day approached, the $25,000 mark was surpassed.”

Teams competed for six hours, making 23 driver changes and four fuel stops. And when the checkered flag was finally waved, each team contributed to what Dopp called the “ultimate” victory — more than $50,000 was raised for DuPage PADS.

You’re doing what?

Father-daughter Polar Plunge

March is not a time people think about jumping in Lake Michigan, but that’s exactly what Brian Bradtke and his daughter Jessica are planning to do Sunday. The Naperville residents will participate in the 11th annual Chicago Polar Plunge on March 6 at North Avenue Beach.

“I did it as an individual last year because everyone else I talked to about it thought I was nuts,” Bradtke said.

The Chicago Polar Plunge is one of the largest fundraisers for Special Olympics Chicago, the local organization that provides year-round sports training and competitions for children and adults with special needs. All participants are required to raise a minimum of $125.

Jessica, 15, opted to join in the fun and fundraising after seeing her dad brave the chilly waters last year.

“Our team name this year is ‘You’re doing what?’ because that is the reaction most people have when you tell them about it,” Bradtke said. “We have a team of two at this point, but I have more friends about to join. No matter what, we will be there and will try to raise as much money as possible.”

To learn more about the Chicago Polar Plunge, visit www.sochicago.org.

Xtreme motivation

Ex-NFL players inspire during ISATS

Still Middle School students looking for test-taking inspiration got it in the form of two former NFL players. Tavian Banks and Kevin Kasper shared what it meant to do their best in the classroom and on the playing field with sixth-graders at the Aurora school.

The visit coincided with the state standardized tests that were administered this week, and was arranged by teacher Kristen Evenhouse.

“I thought that they could truly inspire our students to do their best as we begin ISAT testing week,” Evenhouse said. “I couldn’t think of two greater people — these guys know what it means to do their individual best on a team and how it affects the entire team when they do.”

Evenhouse speaks from experience. The teacher has participated in a Sunday morning “boot camp” for the last three months, led by the former NFL athletes at Xtreme Speed in Plainfield.

“Xtreme Speed pushed me to do more than I thought I could,” Evenhouse said. “When we are inspired, we want to inspire others, and that’s what I do every day. Our students may not be playing on a field, but as they prepare for ISATS, we want to give them the best training (possible), educationally and emotionally.”

Rocky Mountain Low

Trouble in Colorado for Fiore

We have our doubts this is what former Naperville City Council member David Fiore had in mind when he relocated to Colorado a few years ago.

Fiore is fighting to become the court-ordered custodian of the Little Red Ski Haus, a quaint but troubled ski lodge in the Aspen area. He and several other investors — including Robert Loncar, president of Silver Mortgage Bancorp in Naperville — bought the lodge in 2001, planning to develop it into a “fractional ownership model,” or timeshare, according to a recent story in the Aspen Daily News.

Ugliness has since ensued, with Fiore filing his receivership motion early last month. Loncar and Fiore’s other partners haven’t taken things lying down, accusing Fiore of racketeering and misappropriating money for, among other things, “a lavish party, vacations to London and Hong Kong, a ski pass and a vehicle navigation system,” according to the newspaper report.

Oh, and both sides are also alleged to be “broke or nearly so.”

The full text of the newspaper article can be read at www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/145507.