On Thursday, August 9, over 300 local civic and community leaders will participate in the 2^nd Annual Patrick J. Ryan Golf Outing in support of Catholic Charities program for children and youth who have lost loved ones to suicide. The event honors Patrick J. Ryan, the youngest son of former attorney general Jim Ryan. In 2007 Patrick took his own life. Catholic Charities’ Loving Outreach to the Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) program supported the Ryan family following Patrick’s death.

A beautiful day of golfing at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago will be followed by a festive dinner and silent & live auction.

In addition to the Ryan family, major sponsors of the event include: The John Buck Company; Happy Products; Harmony Health Plan; Monterrey Security; The Thomas & Christina Grusecki Family Foundation; Chip and Ellen Mulaney; Organic Milling, and The Perry Family Foundation.

Art Norman, Anchor/Reporter at NBC5 News Chicago, will emcee the event. Special guests will include: Mike Adamle, former Chicago Bears player and NBC 5 News Sports Anchor; Pete Myers, former Chicago Bulls player and Rev. Tuan Van Nguyen, Pastor at St. Alexander Church in Villa Park.

The mission of the LOSS Program for Children and Youth is to guide and support young survivors of suicide through the grief recovery process. The program provides individual, family and group counseling for children, as well as consultation for caregivers.

This program is more vital than ever, when considering the staggering number of Veterans in the Chicagoland area that are returning from service and losing their lives to suicide. One Veteran a day is taking his or her life, and the LOSS Program for Children and Youth is now here to provide support to the families of those left behind.

The LOSS  Program for Children and Youth is funded in part through a grant from the Illinois Healthcare Foundation and matching contributions, like those raised by this golf outing.

For information on getting involved with the planning committee or for event information, please contact Ashley Owen, Senior Event Coordinator at Catholic Charities, at (312) 655-7912 or aowen@catholiccharities.net or visit our website at www.catholiccharities.net/patrickryangolf.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the largest private, not-for-profit social service agencies in the Midwest, annually assisting 1.1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church's role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities.