BUZZ to rock downtown as scavenger teams race for charity » Posted Friday, September 23, 2005 view article Buzz puts fun in fundraising » Posted Wednesday, August 3, 2005 view article Buzz aims to serve village » Posted June 16, 2005 view article All media inquiries should be directed to Buzz A Philanthropic Organization of Dedicated Professionals P.O. Box 8141 Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-8141 media@projectbuzz.org » Posted Wednesday, August 3, 2005 Buzz puts fun in fundraising » Jean Murphy / Daily Herald Correspondent A new organization trying to raise money for charity is starting to create a stir in Arlington Heights. Officially known as Buzz, a philanthropic organization of young professionals, the independent group is currently planning The Rat Race, its first major fund-raiser to be held on Sept. 24. Proceeds will benefit WINGS — Women in Need of Growing Stronger, which serves women and children throughout the Northwest suburbs. “The Rat Race will be a cross between a scavenger hunt and the television show, ‘The Amazing Race,’ ” said Sue Dawson, the organization’s president and one of its three founders. “Thirty teams of two people each will set off through downtown Arlington Heights, clues in hand, to visit businesses and complete tasks. The team that finishes first will receive a great prize.” The event will cost $80 per team and includes a Finish Line Party at Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Pub, 8 N. Vail Ave., in Arlington Heights. The party runs from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and includes appetizers and three drink tickets. Tickets to just the party are also available. The Daily Herald and Harris Bank will help sponsor the event. Registration for the race will begin at 2:15 p.m., Sept. 24, with the race starting promptly at 3 p.m. Teams can also pre-register by sending checks to Buzz, P.O. Box 8141, Rolling Meadows, 60008. Dawson, a resident of Arlington Heights and an attorney with Marks, Marks and Kaplan in Chicago, said she came up with the idea for Buzz in February. “I have always enjoyed working with various charities, but I noticed that an element of fun was missing and most people my age couldn’t afford to go to expensive black-tie dinners with me,” she said. Dawson said she called Mike Mulder at Harris Bank and Kristin Horbach, owner of Naturally Elegant, and they decided to invite other people to an initial meeting. They’ve been meeting monthly since March. Less than six months later, the group boasts 35 members, Dawson said. In addition to their monthly meetings, the group held a golf event in June and other events. They chose WINGS as their philanthropy group for the first year. In addition to The Rat Race, events planned for upcoming months include a fall speaker series, a bowling party, and a December pub crawl, The Santa Shuffle. For more information about Buzz and its various activities, log on to www.projectbuzz.org. Read what they say about Buzz and our involvement in the community.