Literacy Connection sets Boss of the Toss cornhole fundraiser for June 13

The Literacy Connection’s Board of Directors will turn cornhole into a literacy fundraiser on Saturday, June 13, when Boss of the Toss takes over American Legion Post 57 at 820 N. Liberty St. in Elgin. The 21-plus event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with game sign-up closing at 11:45 a.m. and bags flying at noon.

The tournament is built for broad turnout. Teams can enter in groups of 4 or more, as pairs, or as individuals, and the afternoon will carry the familiar draw of cash prizes, a 50-50 raffle, food and drinks for purchase. Tickets and sponsorships were set to go on sale Monday, May 4, giving supporters two ways to back the event before the first bags are tossed.

What makes Boss of the Toss distinctive is the cause behind the bracket. The Literacy Connection says proceeds will support free literacy services for adults in Elgin and surrounding areas, including one-on-one volunteer tutoring and small-group instruction. The organization works with adult learners who want to read, write, speak and understand English, and it serves communities across 16 northwest Chicago suburban towns.

That mission gives the tournament a clear purpose beyond the game itself. The Literacy Connection says it has been carrying out that work for 40 years and counting, and it remains an affiliate of ProLiteracy. Its home base on the second floor of Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin adds to the event’s local footprint, tying the fundraiser directly to the neighborhood it serves.

For cornhole players, the appeal is simple: a summer bracket, prizes and a casual format that welcomes solo entrants as well as full teams. For the nonprofit, the payoff is more durable. Every registration, sponsorship and raffle ticket feeds a program that delivers free instruction to adults who need it most, making Boss of the Toss less a novelty than a practical way to fund the next round of lessons, tutoring sessions and small-group classes.