RECIPIENT OF 2009 GAME ON! GIRLS' YOUTH COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
KEVIN MOONEY
OF LIBERTYVILLE, ILLINOIS
click for details

Game On! supports:

• Graduated magna cum laude, Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) 2002,  bachelors degree in Business Administration;
• Played varsity basketball and softball for IWU, team captain for basketball team;
• 2004 earned Masters Degree in Secondary Education from Roosevelt University;
• Currently teaches in the Business Department at East Leyden High School;
• Assistant Girls’ Varsity Leyden Basketball coach for the last three years;
• Adjunct faculty member at Roosevelt University in the College of Education;
• Extensive experience with summer sports camps including 6 years at Hi-Five Sports Camp, Northfield (coach, station head, and division leader).

Sara Hokin, Director of Operations, Assistant Camp Director, Softball Station Head

• Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls Assistant Camp Director and Softball Station Head inaugural summer 2007
• Graduated from University of Tampa, May 2006, Bachelors Degree in Sports Management
• Member of University of Tampa Spartan Varsity softball team 2002 - 2006
• Member of the USA Women's Softball team - member of gold medal team, 2005 Maccabiah International Games, Israel
• Member of USA Women's Softball team participating in the 2007 Maccabiah Pan American Games in Argentina
• Currently girls travel softball coach on the Northshore
• Softball instructor for girls of all ages, group and private
• Years of experience as summer camp counselor
• Community Relations Intern for Chicago RUSH, Arena Football League, 2006

Jay Bulev, Assistant Camp Director and Soccer Station Head

• Soccer Station Head, Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls - inaugural summer 2007
• Head Coach/Trainer, Trevian Soccer Club/FC United since 2003 (years of experience coaching and instructing, girls soccer)
• Holds USSF D Coaching License
• Current Member of Semi-Professional soccer club
• Varsity Soccer, New Trier High School
  
• Fluent in three languages

top

GAME ON! IS BORN - The story behind its evolution and the founders
If you were to have handed Barb Lazarus and Julie Kollada a crystal ball back in the 1970s while teammates in tennis, basketball, volleyball and softball at Highland Park High School, they would have shrugged off any notion that they would someday end up pursuing their dream business together.  Julie, two years Barb’s elder, was off to University of Houston on a full volleyball scholarship in 1976 and then on to many successes in the business world. Barb was off to play tennis at the University of Michigan (1978) and then on to law school, eight years with the United States Attorney’s Office here in Chicago, and then on to her own success in the business world. A close lasting friendship and participation on a summer softball team for over 25 years kept Julie and Barb connected through these years.
 
For years, Julie and Barb dreamed about opening a sports camp for girls in conjunction with other community oriented sports programing. Then, about four years ago, the founder of an area boys' camp suggested the idea of creating an eight-week summer camp devoted to multi sports for girls.
 
Barb and and Julie had always talked about how much their involvement in sports had positively shaped their lives. They had been the early beneficiaries of Title IX and never stopped appreciating the doors of opportunity that opened in athletics as a result. Moreover, they both credited sports with building self- image, confidence and lasting friendships and memories that have laid the groundwork for very fulfilling business and personal lives.
 
Julie and Barb decided it was time and Game On! Sports Camp 4 Girls was born. 
 
Barb and Julie are happily married and each is the proud mom of two sons. Barb oldest, Brett, is a freshman in college while her youngest, Jake, is a junior at Deerfield High School. Julie’s two sons, Matt and Mike, are in eighth grade and sixth grade, respectively, at Caruso Junior High School.
 
In addition to their business backgrounds, Barb and Julie have also spent years involved in sport and fitness. As far back as winning the “Best Athlete” award at Edgewood Junior High School in Highland Park (Julie in 1972 and Barb in 1974), they have put a lot of heart into competitive sports. Even after active sports careers in high school in college, they continue to play on a championship “A League” softball team in Highwood. Although at ages 48 and 50, their legs may be slowing down a bit, they expect to be playing for years to come. Fitness also continues to figure prominently in their lives.
 
Both Barb and Julie were recently inducted into the newly formed Highland Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

top