Wintrust gathered its summer interns for an Ace Race® mini golfing charity team building event in Rosemont, Illinois. More than 90 interns, affectionately known as the “Winterns,” came together at the company’s campus for an afternoon that combined creativity, competition, and community impact. While the group arrived with a relatively calm and reserved energy, that didn’t last long. By the end of the event, the room was filled with cheering, celebration, and plenty of friendly rivalry. Along the way, participants collected more than 900 pounds of shelf-stable food for Fill a Heart for Kids.
Wintrust Financial Corporation delivers sophisticated financial capabilities with a community bank personality across its businesses in banking, specialty finance, and wealth management. Wintrust’s teams put clients first and deliver financial solutions that create impact in communities and value for shareholders. At the core of the company are the values that guide decisions and actions every day: Integrity, Accountability, Well-being, and Teamwork.
Wintrust Interns Turn a Mini Golf Challenge Into a Massive Food Donation at Charity Team Building Event in Rosemont, Illinois
At first glance, this looked like a fairly quiet group.
Many of the interns were still getting to know one another, and the room started with the kind of energy you might expect from a large gathering of young professionals. Then the competition began. The moment the teams started building the courses it quickly uncovered a side of the group that had been hiding just below the surface.
The main challenge tasked teams with building custom mini golf holes using donated food items. That’s when the creativity really took over. Some groups designed straightforward holes. Others decided to push the limits of engineering. Several designs became so ambitious and difficult that the tournament rules needed a few adjustments just to keep play moving. Those moments created some of the biggest laughs of the afternoon.
As teams moved through the course, they cheered for great shots, celebrated unlikely successes, and fully embraced the competition. What began as a room full of individuals gradually became a connected group working together and having fun.
By the end of the event, the impact extended far beyond the mini golf course. The interns had collected more than 900 pounds of shelf-stable food for Fill a Heart for Kids. Seeing the donation pile grow throughout the afternoon provided a powerful reminder that even a fun competition can make a meaningful difference in the community.
Most importantly, the event gave the Winterns a chance to connect with one another in a way that wouldn’t happen during a typical workday. The laughter, energy, and shared experience helped transform a group of interns into a true team.
We give a big thank you to Wintrust and its incredible group of Winterns for their generous donation. We’d also like to thank Fill a Heart for Kids for the important work they do to support children and families throughout the community.
Looking for a way to bring interns or early-career employees together in Rosemont? An Ace Race® charity event combines creativity, competition, and community impact in one unforgettable experience.