You are currently browsing the category archive for the 'Press Room' category.
Despite sweltering heat, the festivities still had a cool touch to them…whether it was choosing to participate in the Water Wars event or feeling a cool breeze from a child carrying a portable fan that also happened to spray water…so that by the end of the bash, the outside temperature didn’t matter any more and everyone instead left with a feeling of internal warmth and camaraderie.
Whether it was the Bean Bag Tournament or one of the songs performed by two different bands that called you onto the dance floor, the steady stream of raffle winners who also crossed the wood-paneled floor became quite entertaining as many of the winners became exuberant with the prizes they won. It was almost like Christmas in July with the number of prizes that were so graciously donated from a variety of places. Golf bags, bean bag sets, gift certificates from a variety of stores and restaurants helped make the raffle ticket sales soar while keeping the odds fairly reasonable.
The children seemed to have an easier time in the heat, not hesitating to play with water balloons or squirt guns while also spending a significant amount of time dancing and playing on the dance floor with inflatable sharks and colorful beach balls, courtesy of the band Southern Course. Many had their faces and arms painted with various images of baseball team allegiances, bunny rabbits and rainbows by artistically-talented volunteers of ASTP, while everyone of all ages enjoyed food and drinks provided by Double Play Saloon in Blue Island, Kenootz Pizzeria, Banquets and Catering in Midlothian, and Hayes Beer Distributing Company of Alsip.
Many of the Oak Fest volunteers came out to hang out with us, and we are grateful for the hands-on assistance of Hank Kuspa, Joe Koce, Ken Keeler, Kevin Helwig, Ed Meroz, as well as everyone with DNR Construction and KC Audio. A special thanks to members of the Color Guard from the Midlothian American Legion who attended the event as well as the police presence throughout the event.
And finally an all-inclusive thank you to those of you who helped us set up and take down what we used during the event…the stacked chairs at the end of the evening, people picking up garbage throughout the day, volunteers selling the raffle tickets…your efforts were both felt and appreciated by all.
Reprint from the Daily Southtown
In Uniform
Want to help military families in need? Here’s your chance
July 8, 2007
Many times, they really don’t need much.
When a Southland charity asked the wife of one deployed serviceman what she needed, the military wife asked only for help paying the fees for her two young sons to play Little League Baseball.
It was a request Americans Standing Together Proudly was happy to fulfill.
“We know we’re not going to pay a mortgage for someone,” said Dominic D’Ambrosio, president of Americans Standing Together Proudly. “It’s whatever we can offer them to take some of the burden off with one of their family members away.”
The 5-year-old organization that has members throughout the south suburbs began a fund in March that distributes money to families of deployed service members.
So far, they’ve distributed about $1,000.
To help bulk up the fund, the group will host a fundraiser today on the site of Oak Fest, at 159th Street and Long Avenue.
The event will include live bands, food and drinks. Americans Standing Together Proudly also plans to raffle off White Sox tickets, D’Ambrosio said.
So far, the group has received fewer than 10 requests for cash, but D’Ambrosio said people might not know money is available.
To apply for help, military families can fill out a one-page application, which the organization will review. They will determine on a case-by-case basis how much money to award.
“The idea is that by this (troop) being away that this family is baring a burden,” D’Ambrosio said of the fund.
Visit www.4astp.com to apply.
Kristen Schorsch may be reached at
kschorsch@dailysouthtown.com
or (708) 633-5992.
If You Go
What: Americans Standing Together Proudly fundraiser for families of deployed service members
When: 1 p.m. today
Where: 159th Street and Long Avenue, Oak Forest
Cost: $10 donation; children 12 and younger are free
For more information: www.4astp.com or e-mail astpevents@hotmail.com
Since its inception, the ASTP has been proud to choose and support local charities. We have raised fund for a variety of causes over the years and helped many local families in their times of need. In January, the board of the ASTP made the decision to concentrate all of our efforts into one cause, which is to provide emergency relief funding through Deployed Service Members and Family Relief Fund.
The plan of the fund is to offer financial assistance to the families of service members during times of deployment. Many service members are deployed for 12 to 18 months at a time. Imagine if tomorrow your husband, wife, mother or father was deployed for that period of time. Of course it would be emotionally difficult but it would inevitably cause a financial hardship on the family as well. The purpose of the relief fund is to offer some financial support to these families in their time of need.
Regardless of your position on the war, you must agree that if these families need help, they should get it. The members of our military volunteer to serve. And when they are called upon, they selflessly respond. The support we can offer these families is small compared to the sacrifice they are making to protect us all.
The fund will be specifically directed to benefit local families. While there are federal aid programs available, we want to offer a simple process of getting aid to the people who need it quickly. Qualifying family members will be able to fill out a short application form, our board will evaluate the request within 24 hours and funds will be dispersed immediately upon approval. By servicing local families, we will be able to eliminate a lot of the “red tape” usually associated with requesting financial aid directly from the government.
We do acknowledge that we may not be able to pay a mortgage for a family, but we want to offer prompt assistance to families in need even if it is on a comparatively smaller scale.
We always encourage open conversation and idea sharing on how to improve our collective efforts. Please feel free to visit our website at www.4astp.com for more details.
