Press Release - Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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ONE PAIR OF BEARS PLAYOFF TICKETS RAISES MORE THAN $5,000 FOR ILLINOIS DISABLED VETERANS BEARS FANS GIVE LOCAL INJURED MARINE - A DECORATED IRAQ WAR VETERAN - THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BEARS HISTORIC
(CHICAGO) - Today, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn presented Homefront Hero Awards to three Illinois citizens - Allen Byrne and Brian Dempsey, both of Palos Heights, and Rose White of New Lenox - whose unselfish donation of two coveted tickets for Sunday's game raised much-needed funds for disabled veterans and gave U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Mike Mendoza, an wounded Iraq War veteran from Tinley Park, the opportunity to see the Bears' historic win.
"Today we salute three everyday citizens whose generous actions gave one of our military's finest heroes the chance of a lifetime," said Quinn. "Many thanks to Allen Byrne, Brian Dempsey, and Rose White for remembering those who have faithfully served the Land of Lincoln."
Allen Byrne, owner of Bluestone Bar and Grill in New Lenox, originally donated the two Bears tickets to the Orland Park-based Disabled Patriots Fund as a raffle item. Sales of the raffle tickets, at $5 each, raised $2,500 for the fund.
Instead of using the tickets himself, raffle winner Brian Dempsey returned the tickets to the Disabled Patriot Fund, which then auctioned them off. The auction winner, Rose White, paid $1,500 for the tickets, then re-donated them to the Fund which put them up for a second auction. White was again the highest bidder, at $1,500. In total, the raffle and double auction raised $5,500 for the Disabled Patriot Fund.
Then, Ms. White generously returned the tickets once again to the Disabled Patriot Fund, whose administrators gave them to U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Mike Mendoza, of Tinley Park. Mendoza was injured by a grenade blast in Iraq last summer. He received the Silver Star - the military's second-highest award for valor - and the Purple Heart for his heroic protection of his platoon.
Quinn first met Mendoza last August, when the Lt. Governor visited Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a U.S. Army health facility in Landstuhl, Germany. Mendoza returned to the United States in August and is now undergoing rehabilitation at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Quinn also urges taxpayers to "check off the box" and donate to the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund this tax season. Drafted by Quinn, unanimously passed by the General Assembly, and signed into law in February 2003 by Governor Rod Blagojevich, the Illinois Military Family Relief Act established a check-off on state income tax forms enabling taxpayers to voluntarily donate to the trust fund.
The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund assists the families of Illinois National Guard members and reservists called to active duty who may be facing financial hardships with expenses such as rent, groceries, or utility bills. The Illinois Military Family Relief Fund has distributed more than 7,500 grants totaling more than $4 million.
To find out ways to help those who serve, visit www.OperationHomefront.org. With more than 19 million hits, it's one of the country's most informative websites on supporting our troops.
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