Jonathan Becker

PONTIAC — A trivia night to benefit a fifth-grader at St. Mary School here who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Mary Parish hall.

Jonathan Becker, the son of Matt and Marie Becker, was diagnosed in January and is currently undergoing treatment at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Proceeds from the trivia night will help offset expenses the family has accumulated.

Entry fee is $50 per table, with teams of six to 10 people encouraged. Three cash prizes will be awarded to the top finishers after eight rounds of competition. Sandwiches, desserts, and beverages will be available.

Registration forms are available on the school website, stmaryspontiac.org, or by calling Mary Carpenter, (815) 584-1646.

The trivia night is the latest in an outpouring of support from the St. Mary’s faith community. Jonathan recently received a visit from Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs, a cancer survivor, and hundreds of bracelets made by Maria Long, a fourth grade student at St. Mary School, have been sold to raise funds for his family.

Meanwhile, the 37th annual Kevin Casson Memorial Basketball Tournament in early February, usually a fundraiser for the St. Mary’s Booster Club and to fund eighth grade field trips, was amended this year to collect donations for Jonathan.

“This is our chance to help this family even more,” said Alison Tarr, chairperson of the trivia night. “We want them to focus on doing whatever they can to help Jonathan.”

Sponsors are also being sought for each round of the trivia competition. Interested businesses are invited to contact Amy Brummel at the Bank of Pontiac, (815) 993-1582, brummels_3@yahoo.com.