Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn joined with Illinois native and Oscar-nominated actor, Gary Sinise, who will help Operation Support Our Troops Illinois present a $35,000 check to the Fisher House for Hines organiz

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn joined with Illinois native and Oscar-nominated actor, Gary Sinise, who will help Operation Support Our Troops Illinois present a $35,000 check to the Fisher House for Hines organization. The donation - proceeds from a benefit concert played by Sinise's Lt. Dan Band last year - will be used to build a Fisher House for families of injured servicemembers being treated at Hines VA Hospital.

Fisher House for Hines will provide a home-away-from-home, free of charge, to family members of injured servicemembers being treated at Hines. Family support has proven to be a key component in accelerating the recovery rate for wounded servicemembers.

Quinn also urged Illinois citizens to support the troops by purchasing tickets for the next Lt. Dan Band concert, "Rockin' for the Troops" in Wheaton on July 21, 2007. Proceeds from this event will continue to fund efforts to support deployed and returning servicemembers.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.OSOTIL.org or by phone at 1-800-594-TIXX (8499). Tickets are also available at participating Jewel Food Stores.

The Lt. Dan Band was formed by Chicago composer Kimo Williams and actor/musician Gary Sinise. Sinise, who portrays Detective Mac Taylor in the acclaimed television show CSI NY, has a strong commitment to supporting American troops. The Lt. Dan Band has completed four tours for the USO and performs regularly for troops stationed around the world.

The inspiration for the band's name came from the character Sinise portrayed in the 1994 film Forrest Gump - "Lieutenant Dan" - a role for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. As Sinise began visiting troops around the world, people would recognize him as "Lt. Dan" not Gary Sinise, the actor. Those in the military also seem to identify strongly with the character.

Quinn was also joined by Operation Support Our Troops Illinois founder Debi Rickert, a military mom from Naperville who began the organization as an effort to show gratitude to the troops overseas.  Operation Support Our Troops Illinois sends out care packages filled with much-needed supplies that are difficult to find overseas such as hard candy, soap, CDs, toothpaste, and beef jerky. Operation Support Our Troops Illinois is also committed to supporting the needs of the wounded and their families.