Tiger Woods didn't do so well in the Masters Tournament last month. His tie for second place earned him only $541,333.

As gainful as that seems for a few rounds of golf, it comes up short in comparison to what the ISBA Young Lawyers Division has achieved in two years of conducting benefit Golf Classics.

The YLD beneficiaries are the children of witnesses and litigants in legal matters that require courthouse appearances. A contentious hearing or trial is hardly the place for an impressionable youngster.

So the YLD has found ways and means of raising funds to furnish and stock supervised courthouse waiting rooms where the children can read books and play games without distraction.

The annual golf outing, alone, has provided $66,000 in its first two years – a pittance to Tiger Woods but a pot of gold to the good people who volunteer to assist in children's waiting rooms.

The concept of “safe harbors” has been a particular focus of ISBA President Irene F. Bahr during her year in office. She appointed ISBA Assembly member Angela Imbierowitz to chair a Task Force on Children's Waiting Rooms in the Courts.

Bahr and Imbierowicz were pioneers in such an initiative in DuPage County several years ago. The Child Friendly Courts Foundation they established in the 18th Circuit will hold its 12th annual benefit dinner in November.

Similar supervised rooms are located in Kane, Lake, Winnebago and McLean Counties, and more are anticipated where local bar associations and circuit court officials are receptive.

The YLD set up a Children's Assistance Fund nine years ago to sponsor courthouse waiting rooms and make grants to youth-related programs. It is administered by the Illinois Bar Foundation as a bar-related charity.

The Young Lawyers Division's 3rd Annual Golf Classic is scheduled Mon-day, July 23, at Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and a pre-golf educational seminar at 9:30 a.m. will feature Warren Lupel, a past president of the Illinois Bar Foundation.

Golfing will begin with an 11 a.m. shotgun start and culminate at 4 p.m. with a reception, barbecue dinner and silent auction. The cost for this day of remunerative recreation is only $150 per person ($600 for a foursome).

Best of all, it's tax-deductible. Checks for participating or contributing sponsorships are made payable to the IBF/YLD Children's Assistance Fund.

The 13 suggested donation opportunities range from $100 for sharing a hole sponsorship, to $500 for closest to the pin or longest drive competition, to $1,000 for underwriting lunch, $2,500 for dinner and $3,500 for the reception.

Co-chairs of the 2007 classic are YLD members Kelley A. Gandurski of the City of Chicago Law Department and Brett J. Swanson of the Law Offices of Robert H. Hanaford.

To obtain a golf and sponsorship registration form with complete details, send an e-mail to jsosin@isba.org.