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Fundraiser for Cornerstone Foundation being held June 4
May 30th, 2013
 The first fundraiser that Marti Goyal coordinated to benefit the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation was such a success, she’s helping to plan a second one at her father’s restaurant.
Through Urba Baby, the store Goyal opened in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood in 2011, she raised about $6,000 by putting together a team of runners to participate in the Shamrock Shuffle, an 8K race that started and ended in Chicago’s Grant Park April 7.
This coming Tuesday, June 4, Goyal will help host a grand opening celebration/benefit at Tommy Knuckles Tavern and Lounge (433 W. Diversey Parkway) in Chicago. The establishment, which has already been open for about a month, is co-owned by her dad, Martin Fernandez.
The open house-style event will be held from 6 p.m.-1 a.m. According to Goyal, all of the funds generated from a $5 cover charge will go directly to the Cornerstone Foundation, as will $1 from every drink sold. There will also be raffle prizes with tickets being sold throughout the night.
Goyal hopes to raise a couple thousand dollars for Tillman’s charitable foundation. She’s a big fan of the Bears cornerback and the work he does off the field for children and their families.
“We’re not a big corporate company, so we can’t just write a check for $100,000,” she said. “But every penny counts. Our small pennies might make a difference someday.”
Goyal grew up in a charitable-minded family and is very active in the community, donating her time and resources through Urba Baby, a store that sells baby clothes and products. When she was seeking an organization to aid via the Shamrock Shuffle, she chose the Cornerstone Foundation.
Goyal and her husband ran in the race along with John Accrocco, Catherine Degen and Bryce Gangel. Through Urba Baby, she matched the $45 registration fee for her team members and placed logos of companies who donated over $50 on the back of her team’s t-shirts. She also solicited donations from customers and vendors.
“It ended up being an awesome event,” Goyal said. “It wasn’t a huge event by any means, but we had an awesome turnout. We had so much support from everybody, so overall the event was a big success. I was shocked that people were so supportive of us. It was really, really neat.”
Father knows best: Tillman will receive a father of the year award June 12 at the 2013 Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Fatherhood Dinner Celebration at the Union League of Chicago (65 West Jackson). Charles and his wife, Jackie, are the parents of three daughters and one son.
Tillman and Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass will be honored as dads “who have exemplified the values that all fathers should seek to emulate. Bears return specialist Devin Hester, Tillman’s longtime teammate, was among the award winners at last year’s event.
The event begins at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $100 for individuals and $1,000 for a table. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.4fathers.org.
Top honor: The Beardown fan club, which is comprised primarily of Bears fans in the United Kingdom and Europe, voted Tillman the Bears’ defensive player of the year for 2012.
Tillman received 83 percent of the vote from the organization (www.beardownuk.com), which bills itself as the largest Bears fan community outside the United States.
After leading the NFL with a career-high 10 forced fumbles and tying for the league lead with three interception return touchdowns last season, Tillman was voted to the Pro Bowl along with three other Bears defenders: fellow cornerback Tim Jennings, defensive tackle Henry Melton and defensive end Julius Peppers.
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