Thursday, January 17, 2013
Annual Opportunity Knocks Chili Cook-Off brings together local chili cooks and football fans this Sunday in Forest Park.
Chili and football: the two things go together like...well, chili and football! Opportunity Knocks presents its fifth annual Chili Cook-off and Raffle, from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20 at Healy's Westside, 7321 Madison St. in Forest Park. Football fans can enjoy a steaming bowl chili made by local cooks and the NFC Championship Game, between the Atlanta Falcolns and the San Francisco 49ers, which starts at 2 p.m. A total of 26 chili cooks have registered this year and three local celebrity chefs are ready to judge the contest. This year's judges include: A donation of $20 gets you a sampling of the area's finest chili, appetizers and dessert. For $10 folks have a chance to win a one-week all inclusive vacation to the Dominican Republic…
41.879574
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7321 Madison St, Forest Park, IL
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Sixth annual softball tournament set to take over the Forest Park ball diamonds Sept. 22.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Casey Cora
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The OK Classic softball tournament is coming back to Forest Park once again, and this year organizers are offering a few new twists. The tournament, now in its sixth year, is one of the biggest fundraisers for the Opportunity Knocks, the River Forest-based resource agency for developmentally disabled. Related: OK President Phil Carmody's Patch blog Against a backdrop of food, live music and a beer tent, twenty teams will battle it out on the Forest Park ball diamonds, 7501 Harrison St. Earlier: Live Coverage of the OK Classic (2010) Although team registration is closed, organizers say individual players and teams can still be sponsored. As in year's past, the "Big House" — a makeshift, fee-based jail where players and the crowd can send …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
OPRF grad, Knicks star returns home and pays it forward.
Since falling victim to a debilitating ACL injury during the first round of this season's NBA Playoffs, Oak Park native Iman Shumpert has been busy. He's secured a new $9,200-per-month apartment in New York City, laid down a pair of rap tracks and celebrated his 22nd birthday. And rehab on the knee is apparently going better than expected. But he's not too bogged down in the superstar-standout-rookie-sensation lifestyle to pay a visit home, which is just what he did last week. Wednesday Journal has the details about the recent Shumpert Youth Basketball Camp, held at Oak Park-River Forest High School for middle and high school players. The sessions wrapped up over the weekend and a similar camp is now underway in New York. And before the …
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Kid-powered collaboration yields street decorations made from recycled materials.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Casey Cora
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Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Very happy to see this arrive in the inbox the other day, compliments of Liita Forsyth, a River Forest resident who leads the Little Bits Workshop. She writes: The Little Bits Workshop partnered with Opportunity Knocks to create a splash on Lake Street in River Forest. Young campers 5-9 years old created street banners, planted gardens and yarn-bombed a tree for the sole purpose of showing people how individuals of all ages and abilities can come together to create beauty and make a difference. The message is is simple: GROWING...OPPORTUNITIES...TOGETHER...which means if we accept and respect those with disabilities, the sky is the limit. (The banners were made from repurposed materials: a photographer's back drop, vintage doilies, old t-…
Friday, December 9, 2011
Local nonprofit pairs with girls hoops teams for a community food drive.
Participants and program leaders at Opportunity Knocks have started a food drive that will send donations to the Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry. Collections have already started. The "Warriors," as Opportunity Knocks' participants are known, will team up with the girls varsity basketball teams from Oak Park-River Forest High School and Fenwick High School, and the Special Olympics basketball team, for the next collection date, scheduled for two sessions on Dec. 14. The first takes place at the River Forest Community Center, 8020 Madison St. from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.; the other takes place from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. at the Field House at OPRF, 201 N. Scoville Ave. Opportunity Knocks is a River Forest-based resource agency for the …
Friday, October 21, 2011
Teambuilding jam session brings boys, girls and Special Olympics teams together at OPRF.
From OPRF varsity hoops coach Matt Maloney. Thanks for the e-mail, Coach. Mike Carmody, the founder of Opportunity Knocks and Special Education teacher at the high school, organized a 5 on 5 basketball tournament. The tournament consisted of teams with member of the boys’, girls’ and Special Olympics’ basketball programs at the school. Along with these players, the athletes were greeted by a special guest, NBA 1st rounder and former Huskie, Iman Shumpert. Iman joined the pink squad and quickly added to the highlights of the day that included three alley-oops to Iman from Special Olympics’ players. The event ended with everyone gathering for pizza and building relationships. The theme for the day was “One Day. One Team.” Mike Carmody …
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Phil Carmody, president of Opportunity Knocks, earns votes from friends and recognition in national contest.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Casey Cora
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Thursday, October 20, 2011
Because of your votes, a local hero will be rewarded with new wheels for a week. Phil Carmody, president of the River Forest-based Opportunity Knocks and a Naperville resident, captured an overwhelming 750 out of 1,385 total votes to win GM's Driving the Midwest "Our Town, Our Heroes" competition. Related: Let's All Vote For a Local Hero, Yes? Carmody, 32, and his nominator, fellow firefighter John Halgren, will both get their pick of a shiny new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle on loan for a week and a full tank of gas. Here's what Halgren said in his nomination: Phil is a hero for two reasons. Not only is he a Naperville firefighter paramedic, but he also serves as the President on the Board of Directors for ‘Opportunity Knocks…
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
River Forest nonprofit president Phil Carmody is up for national recognition in General Motors contest.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Casey Cora
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Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Three Illinois first responders have been named as finalists in General Motors' Driving the Midwest "Our Town, Our Heroes" contest. One of them is Phil Carmody, president of Opportunity Knocks, the River Forest-based resource agency for the developmentally disabled he cofounded with his brother Mike. It's a role that requires lots of hard work — just check out some of these stories from various OK events around town, and you'll get a sense of the behind-the-scenes dedication it takes to throw fundraising galas, host golf outings, organize a popular softball tournament and keep the nonprofit organization funded and operational. And did we mention that's not his full-time gig? Carmody, 32, is a firefighter paramedic in Naperville. In that …
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Softball, fun, family and a full day of camaraderie at the annual OK Classic Tournament in Forest Park.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Derek Walker
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Sunday, September 25, 2011
Twenty teams took the fields this year at the Forest Park ball fields starting bright and early at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, despite some early morning showers. But a little mud and some wet grass didn't dampen the spirits of the participants, who slugged and chugged their way to the ultimate victory that was raising money for Opportunity Knocks, a non-profit organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Couldn't make it today? No worries, here's just a sample of what you missed. Have more photos you'd like to add? Just click "Add My Photos and Videos," located under the gallery.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Another weekend, another chance to get out and explore the amazing Oak Park and River Forest area.
CLARK WEBER'S ROCK 'N' ROLL ROOTS When/Where: 7 p.m. Thursday at the River Forest Public Library, 735 Lathrop Ave. Why Go: As program director and disc jockey at WLS, Clark Weber "chose the playlists back when rock ‘n’ roll was clean and the Chicago River was dirty," and he'll share tales from his book at this special appearance. More here. Price: Free LOS PERROS CUBANOS AT MAYA DEL SOL When/Where: Friday evening at Maya Del Sol, 144 S. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park. Why Go: Chef Ruben Beltran is firing off crazy-good Mexican dishes, the outdoor fire pit is crackling, the waiters will bring blankets to patio diners and the throwback Cuban tunes of Los Perros Cubanos will keep things interesting all night. Viva musica! Viva Maya! Price: Check …
John Finn
7:53 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Hope to see a strong turnout and for a great cause. Deb thanks for the article. more ›