Rich Harvest Farms golf club is commonly referred to as “ultra-exclusive,” with the likes of Michael Jordan among its members. But the famous Sugar Grove golf course — one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Courses in America and host of the 2017 NCAA Golf Championships — will be open to those who can take part in Giant Steps’ sixth annual 5K Walk for Autism, set for Oct. 1, 2016.

Giant Steps and Rich Harvest Farms made headlines last year with the announcement of plans to construct Canopy, a state-of-the-art living center for adults with autism. Giant Steps hosts a school on the estate, and this year’s fundraising will go toward the school’s operating budget and help fund the daily needs of both students and staff.

“Our annual 5K walk is one of our most important events of the year because it brings together the entire community to work toward a common goal,” said Sylvia Smith, executive director of Giant Steps. “The walk is an event anyone can participate in, no matter what age or physical ability level. It’s also just a great way to celebrate the fall and get students excited about the school year.”

This year’s walk has a goal of raising $125,000. Participants can raise money individually or as a team by creating a profile at campaigns.mygiantsteps.org/walk2016.

Giant Steps 5K Walk for Autism

• Time: Registration at 8:30 a.m.; Welcome at 9:30 a.m.; Walk at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016
• Location: Rich Harvest Farms, 7S771 Dugan Road, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 (Map it)
• Contact: Jamie Duffy at 630.864.3805 or jduffy@mygiantsteps.org.
• More event info

Read More

• Giant Steps, Jerry Rich Plan to Build State-of-the-Art Autism Center in Sugar Grove
• Kane County Golf Course Chosen to Host NCAA Division 1 Finals

About Giant Steps

Since 1996, Giant Steps has been focused on providing education, therapeutic and recreational programs for Elementary, Junior High, High School students and young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders, their families and the community. Giant Steps is designated as a therapeutic day school in the State of Illinois licensed and certified to exclusively serve students with a primary diagnosis of autism. Its goal is to improve a child’s ability to interact, communicate, and develop academic and daily living skills.

About Canopy at Rich Harvest Farms

Giant Steps, in partnership with Rich Harvest Farms, is pleased to introduce Canopy; an integrated community model offering unique work, social, recreational and living opportunities to engage adults with autism throughout their lifetime. Canopy was created to meet the enormous needs of adults living with autism who were no longer able to receive the services of the school system. This day program offers therapeutic supports in addition to life skills activities, vocational readiness programs, leisure or recreational skill development, music therapy, media integration and movement based sessions for adults over the age of 22.

About Rich Harvest Farms

Consistently ranked in Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses, Rich Harvest Farms is an ultra-private, members-only club located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. Owned and built by Jerry Rich, the course consists of 18 holes and is a 1,820-acre showcase of nature and agriculture. The course is proud to host the 2017 NCAA Division I Golf Championships (May 18-31). In the past, the property has played host to the 2009 LPGA Solheim Cup and 2015 Palmer Cup and Western Amateur as well as many other youth an amateur golf events. For more information visit www.richharvestfarms.com and follow Rich Harvest Farms on Twitter – @RHFTournaments.