Oak Park Firefighters Local 95 pose for a photo with Mrs. Luby (black dress on the right) , Oak Park Firefighter Michelle Fitz-Henry who lost
a husband in war (two over from Mrs. Luby) and Mr. Tony Gambino,
owner of Cucina Paradiso (kneeling in front with stripped shirt.)
© Oak Park Journal photo
by Ed Vincent
This was another winning story and great show of continued
support for all those whose friends will not let them be forgotten.
Friends and family who have left behind family and kids that
still need love and help for education and a brighter future.
The money raised this evening will be divided up between three
organizations of choice, THE PATRICK LUBY FOUNDATION,
SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION, and the
OFFICER ROBERT MULLANY FUND (details below).
Oak Park Firefighters Local 95 help serve the meals in the sold out event.
© Oak Park Journal photo
The Cucina Paradiso meals are an art of taste.
© Oak Park Journal photo
Oak Park Firefighter Michelle Fitz-Henry Presents a check for $ 3145.00
to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
© Oak Park Journal photo
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation has been helping children of fallen Special Ops fighters who have lost their lives
fighting terrorists. Last year 69 Special Ops fighters died fighting
the enemies of America. Currently 660 children are getting their
education with scholarship grants from the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. 100 students have graduated college with
the help of the foundation, since 1980. With nearly 100 students
whose parent died in the war defending our nation over $40
millions dollars will be required to keep the program viable until
2018.
Forest Park Firefighter Lt. Mario Tricoci
© Oak Park Journal photo
Forest Park Firefighter Lt. Mario Tricoci came into town for
this worthy fundraiser, and is one of the few in our area who
paid for his own flight to New York following the terrorist
attack on the United States of America, and spent a week of
his vacation time assisting New York bury its firefighters lost
on September 11th. A real local hero and fine person to have
on any Fire Department.
THE PROCEEDS FROM TONIGHT’S EVENT WILL
BENEFIT THE FOLLOWING CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATIONS:
THE PATRICK LUBY FOUNDATION
THIS FOUNDATION IS IN MEMORY OF LIEUTENANT PATRICK LUBY OF THE OAK PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT. PAT LUBY LOST HIS LIFE IN THE LINE OF DUTY ON JULY 29 1992. THE
PATRICK LUBY FOUNDATION PROVIDES A SCHOLARSHIP
TO A DESERVING OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PERSUING A CAREER IN TEACHING.
OFFICER LUBY WAS A TEACHER PRIOR TO JOINING THE OAK PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE ANGELA LUBY AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION
THIS ORGANIZATION WAS CHOSEN IN MEMORY OF TED FITZ-HENRY, A NAVY SEAL WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE LINE
OF DUTY ON JUNE 15, 2004. TED WAS THE HUSBAND OF FIRE
FIGHTER MICHELLE FITZ-HENRY OF THE OAK PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SPEICAL OPERATIONS WARRIOR FOUNDATION PROVIDES COLLEGE GRANTS ALONG WITH
FINANCIAL AID TO CHILDREN OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS PERSONNEL WHO WERE KILLED IN AN OPERATIONAL
MISSION OR TRAINING ACCIDENT. TED’S DAUGHTER
LAUREN IS NOW A STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ.
OFFICER ROBERT MULLANY FUND
OFFICER MULLANY WAS AN 11-YEAR VETERAN OF THE GLENDALE HEIGHTS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH GASTRIC CANCER IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND LOST HIS BATTLE ON JULY 20 2006. HIS WIFE, STEPHANIE AND THEIR SIX CHILDREN RANGING IN AGES
BETWEEN 3 -14 SURVIVE OFFICER MULLANY.
ROBERT MULLANY IS THE BROTHER-IN-LAW OF FIREFIGHTER JASON BODAN OF THE OAK PARK FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CUCINA PARADISO AND OAK PARK FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 95 JOIN TOGETHER TO "SERVE" OTHERS ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2006, 4-9 P.M.
Fourth Annual Fundraiser Supports Three Important Charities and Pays Tribute to the
Victims of September 11th
OAK PARK, IL – August 31, 2006 – Looking for a way to remember and pay tribute to the victims of September 11, 2001? On Monday, September 11th, Cucina Paradiso Restaurant in Oak Park will be hosting a special evening for its diners – The Fourth Annual Oak Park Firefighters Local 95's Night Out "Serving" Others. Cucina Paradiso’s regular wait staff will have the night off – stepping in to fill their place will be representatives from Local 95 serving as "celebrity wait staff” in a fundraising effort to give back to charities that are important to them. Cucina Paradiso will donate a third of all sales that evening to three charities selected by the men and women of Local 95:
– The Lieutenant Patrick Luby Scholarship Fund that was created to honor a fallen Oak Park Firefighter
– The Officer Robert A. Mullany Fund, created to support the wife and six children of a local police officer who died of Stage 4 cancer this July
– The Special Operations Warrior Foundation, an organization providing college scholarships and educational counseling to children of Special Operations Forces who are killed in the line of duty (www.specialops.org).
"We are very proud to be partnering for a fourth year with the firefighters from Oak Park's Local 95 to honor this day," said Anthony Gambino, owner of Cucina Paradiso. "On the fifth anniversary of September 11th, we invite the community to meet and thank our local firefighters, enjoy a great meal and give back to three important charities selected by Local 95."
“We really appreciate all the great support Cucina Paradiso has given us over the years to help raise thousands of dollars to benefit charities that are near and dear to our hearts,” said Lieutenant Todd Johnson, Oak Park Firefighters Local 95.
“We hope to see lots of familiar faces at the restaurant to
support this worthwhile cause and remember those we lost on September 11.”
Space is limited due to the popularity of this event. Reservations are offered only for tables of 5 or more by calling 708-848-3434. Since opening its doors in 1995, Cucina Paradiso has been wowing diners with some of the best – and most reasonably priced – contemporary regional Italian cuisine in all of the Chicago suburbs. Cucina Paradiso is located at 814 North Boulevard in Oak Park, just along the green line at Oak Park Avenue.
© Oak Park Journal
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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