Korte & Luitjohan Contractors purchased toys for 10 children in Caritas Family Solution’s annual Angel Tree program. K & L employees Traci Albers, Bill Blechinger, Janet Gillespie, John Goldsmith, Lisa Pontious, and Cynthia Simpson did our shopping. John Whitworth, K & L vice president, delivered the toys to Alexis and Cody in Caritas’s Highland office on Friday, December 2, 2022. K & L President Gregg Korte serves on Caritas’s board of directors.
Korte & Luitjohan President Gregg Korte delivered toys November 30th to Hillsdale Demolition & Contracting for their 1st Annual Community Toy Drive. Ley Woods, Hillsdale’s general manager, accepted the donation. The company was founded in 2014 by Lakkia Davis-Hynes, whose grandfather had also been in the construction industry.
“It’s all for the kids!”
The personal motto of Pete Korte, chairman of Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc., in Highland, Illinois rang especially true this year at the Camp Ondessonk 27th Annual Golf Benefit. Thanks to the passion and dedication of Korte and his family, friends, and colleagues, almost one million dollars has been raised over the past 27 years, providing tuition assistance for families, changing countless lives through the opportunity to attend summer camp.
This year’s Golf Benefit took place at the Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course in Okawville, Illinois on October 8, 2022. In addition to the time and dedication of volunteers, this event would not be possible without the support of many sponsors. The Premium tournament sponsors were Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc., Beelman Ready Mix, Pepsi MidAmerica, Prindable Insurance Agency, and Thomas Young, Sr. The Diamond sponsor was Roland Machinery Company. The Platinum sponsors were Ameren Illinois, First Mid Bank & Trust, Jim & Carol Henrichs, Jansen Chevrolet, Keeley & Sons, Midwest Municipal Supply, Jim & Kate Shively, SICAP, and USI Insurance & Bonds. The golfer gift sponsor was Silkworm, Inc., and the food and beverage sponsors included US Foods, Trenton Processing, Robert “Chick” Fritz Distributing, and Pepsi MidAmerica.
The Pete Korte family’s involvement and support of Camp Ondessonk spans decades. His children and grandchildren attended Camp and served as counselors, and Pete and his generous employees have donated thousands of hours of their time, equipment, and construction expertise to help build many projects around Camp Ondessonk. The current K&L assisted project involves laying pipes for a new staff duplex on property to be named Pete Korte Lodge, honoring Pete’s legacy and support for Ondessonk.
In 2022, Camp Ondessonk served nearly 3,200 campers during the summer season, steadily building since the loss of summer camp 2020, with the majority from Illinois and Missouri.
Thank you to Pete & Jane Korte, their beautiful family, the employees at Korte & Luitjohan, and all the businesses, sponsors, and golfers who have supported the campers of Ondessonk for the last 27 incredible years, and for many years to come!
(PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF CAMP ONDESSONK)
It was another successful (and crowded) Touch a Truck at Edwardsville Township Community Park on September 24, 2022. Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. was happy to be a sponsor and participant in the event. Thanks to our Adam Kampwerth for representing K & L and thanks to our friends at Luby Equipment for partnering with us. Kids were given K & L coloring books, plastic construction helmets, and juice boxes.
The Highland Chamber of Commerce held another successful Street Art Fest September 17, 2022, on the Highland square. Korte & Luitjohan Contractors and Windows on Broadway partnered to sponsor artist Catie Whitworth, daughter of K & L Vice President John Whitworth. She was awarded 2nd Place in her division!
In recent years, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. has assisted with transporting a vintage steam engine to and from the Latzer Homestead in Highland for the annual Homestead Harvest Days. This year, for the 34th annual event, K & L also sponsored the Living History area. K & L believes in the Highland Historical Society’s mission to preserve and display our rural heritage. There was much to see and do at Homestead Harvest Days, but perhaps this photo best showcases why we’re proud to be a sponsor. Harvest Days was held September 9, 10, and 11, 2022. We’re looking forward to participating again in 2023.
Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. were hosts for the 26th Annual Golf Scramble benefiting Camp Ondessonk. Nestled among nearly 1,000 acres near the Shawnee National Forest, Camp O, as its often called, was founded in 1959 by the Catholic Diocese of Belleville. Kids ages 8 to 15 can experience a classic summer camp highlighted by canoeing, archery, horseback riding, hiking, and rock climbing. Pete Korte, chairman of K & L, served on the camp’s board of directors from 1995 to 2002. His children and grandchildren attended Camp O, and later served as camp counselors.
Although a steady rain fell in the days leading up to the 2021 golf outing, the sun came out on Saturday, October 16, providing a beautiful day for the 24 teams participating. There were 84 sponsors who graciously donated to the golf scramble.
We thank everyone who helped make it a spectacular day!
