ENGLEWOOD — Amusement park lovers can head to Six Flags Great America in far north suburban Gurnee to help a nonprofit miles away in Englewood.
Teamwork Englewood is one of 35 nonprofits that this year will benefit from the amusement parks' Coaster For A Cause program.
Tickets bought online to attend Six Flags on May 17 or 18 using the promotional code TeamFun will net the group $5 per ticket as long as a minimum of 20 tickets are sold, said Krystal Bern, the park's special events coordinator.
By buying tickets online, the price is reduced to $29 from $64.99. Tickets bought at any Six Flags in the country using the promo code will benefit Teamwork Englewood.
This is the first time Teamwork Englewood has participated in the program, said Rita Lewis, a spokeswoman for the group. She said the money raised from ticket sales would be used to help support its programs, such as youth mentoring, employment assistance and its re-entry program for ex-offenders.
"It's a win-win for us. It did not require us to invest a lot other than time in promoting it," Lewis said. "Ideally, we would like to take a group of Englewood youths to Six Flags if we get a sponsor for the trip."
Teamwork, 815 W. 63rd St., is the only nonprofit in Englewood participating so far this year, Bern said. The program is open twice a year for organizations from May 17-18 and Oct. 4-5.
Organizations interested in participating should contact Bern at 847-625-7520. To be eligible an organization must be a registered 501c-3 nonprofit.
The coaster program is one way Six Flags, which opened its Gurnee park in 1976, gives back to the community, said Bern.
"Six Flags started this program as a way to help nonprofits raise money to help the communities it serves," Bern said. "We hope by reducing ticket prices it allows more people to attend Six Flags."
The Gurnee Six Flags opens for the season on May 3.
