May 2022
19th Anniversary Celebrated April 9
We were excited to finally be able to gather for our annual event! This year, we celebrated our 19th Anniversary at the beautiful Palos Country Club. Nearly 170 people joined us for a wonderful evening which included drinks, dinner, dancing, entertainment, and an amazing array of raffle prizes.
After cocktail hour and a delicious dinner, entertainment was provided by Joe “Elvis” Tirrito. For a while, it was as though the King of Rock and Roll was in the room with us. Following the Elvis show, Joe and Aileen provided great music for dancing. Drawing of the raffle prize winners ended the evening on a happy note, and feedback we’ve received tells us that everyone had a great time.
After canceling our 2020 and 2021 events because of the pandemic, it was amazing to be together again. An excerpt from the Welcome address says it all:
“Covid changed our lives – in some ways forever. But one thing Covid could not change is the loyal support we have from you. We were worried when we cancelled our 2020 dinner. We didn’t know how long our funds would last or how soon we would have to turn away cancer patients who needed help. We were really worried when we cancelled our 2021 dinner. But you came through – checks continued to arrive in the mail and we are humbled and awed that we did not have to turn away any requests because of lack of funding. You continued to believe in what we do, and continued to support us, and for that we are so grateful that we don’t even know words to express how we feel. Thank you doesn’t seem like enough. But we do thank you. We were worried when we planned the dinner. We didn’t if people would be ready to attend. But here we are – 170 of us – again, thank you!!”
Our annual Gala is our major source of fundraising for the year. We are happy to report that this year’s event raised $22,700. Thank you to everyone who attended and/or supported our fundraiser.
We are glad that we have been able to continue to help cancer patients during these uncertain times. In the past 19 years, we have helped over 600 individual patients and distributed over $420,000. We help cancer patients who can’t afford their daily expenses during treatment. Most of these people are desperate. There are many circumstances that cause their problems and not many sources for the kind of help we provide.
We’re looking forward to our next event, which will celebrate our 20th anniversary! We’ll keep you posted as soon as details are available. In the meantime, watch your email, or check our Facebook page or our website, www.generoman.org, to see what we’re doing.
Your Donations:
Since our November newsletter, we have:
· Paid rent and electric for a 44-year-old single mom with cervical cancer
· Paid gas bill for a 45-year-old woman with cervical cancer
· Helped with mortgage for a 49-year-old woman with breast cancer
· Paid rent for a 53-year-old man with cancer of the lip
· Paid rent for a 48-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer
· Paid gas and electric bills for a 19-year-old man with lymphoma
· Paid rent and electric bills for a 50-year-old woman with breast cancer
· Paid car payment and utilities for a 60-year-old man with esophageal cancer
· >Helped with utilities and rent for a 39-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer
· Paid rent and electric bill for a 58-year-old man with skin cancer
· Paid gas and electric bills for a 69-year-old man with lung cancer
· Helped with groceries for a 60-year-old man with lung cancer
· Helped with gas bill and groceries for a 51-year-old man with AML
· Paid mortgage for a 42-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer
· Helped with groceries and utilities for a 65-year-old man with throat cancer
· Paid water bill and car payment for a 40-year-old man with lung cancer
· Paid gas and electric bills for a 48-year-old man with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
· Paid rent for a 60-year-old woman with breast cancer
· Paid mortgage for a 63-year-old woman with ovarian cancer
· Paid utilities for a 58-year-old woman with lung cancer
· Made a car payment for a 31-year-old woman with thyroid cancer
· Paid phone bill for a 42-year-old single mom with uterine cancer
· Paid mortgage for a 52-year-old man with multiple myeloma
· Paid rent for a 33-year-old woman with endometrial cancer
· Made a car payment for a 43-year-old woman with CLL
· Paid utilities and groceries for a 53-year-old woman with breast cancer
· Paid rent for a 48-year-old woman with multiple myeloma
· Made a car payment for a 48-year-old woman with AML
· Helped with groceries for a 46-year-old man with pancreatic cancer
· Helped with rent, phone, and transportation costs for a 51-year-old woman with breast cancer
· Paid for Ensure for a 54-year-old woman with leiomysarcoma
· Paid gas bill for a 67-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer
Thank you to our volunteers
Our annual event is a major source of fundraising, and a lot of people are involved to make it happen. Volunteers do things like solicit prizes, set up, sell tickets, hand out raffle prizes, conduct the raffle, take photos, maintain our website, and send out invitations and thank you letters. Thank you to Gerry Berzins, Alex Berzins, Joe Cannon, Cindy Hill, Emily Hill, Jay Hill, Amanda Isbell, Angela Isbell, Samantha Isbell, Ron Kotas, Joy Kucharski, Al Peccia, John Peccia, Michele Roman, Jenny Schissler, Lisa Slovin, Rob Slovin, Lenore Wiencek, Jimmy Wolframski.
Thank you – Let’s Polka U.S.A. Club
Again this year, we thank Let’s Polka U.S.A. Club for their generous contribution. Thank you also to Bernie Locke and Theresa Bolf, Polka Club members and longtime Foundation supporters, for nominating the Foundation to receive the club’s annual charitable donation.
Thank you to our raffle prize donors
Thank you to the following businesses who so generously donated prizes to support our 2022 raffle. PLEASE utilize these businesses whenever you need any of the services or products they offer. If you need further contact information, please email us at [email protected]. We’ll be happy to put you in touch.
- Ambrosino’s Italian Market
- Arrenello’s Pizza
- Aurelio’s Pizza Frankfort
- Aurelio’s Pizza Mokena
- Beggar’s Pizza
- Berkot’s Super Foods
- Bob’s Discount Furniture
- Bonefish Grille
- Capri Ristorante
- Chicago Bears
- Chicago Dough Co.
- Chicago Wolves
- Creamery
- Culver’s
- Famous Dave’s
- Fleckenstein’s Bakery
- Fox’s Orland Park and Mokena
- Fred Astaire Dance Studio
- Gatto’s Italian Restaurant
- Golden Shoes
- Green Garden Country Club
- Guaranteed Rate Frankfort
- HealthSource Chiropractic of Mokena
- Heinie’s McCarthy’s
- Hinsdale Nurseries
- Hog Wild
- Images Med Spa
- Joffery Ballet
- Joliet Slammers
- Author John Lescroart
- Lou Malnati’s Pizza
- Lume’s Pancake House
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Original Pancake House
- Orland Park Health & Fitness
- Park West Gallery
- Raffy’s Candy Store
- Royal Salt Cave
- Smallcakes
- Target New Lenox
- Target Orland Park
- Together We Cope
- Tom Kelly’s Chophouse & Pub
- Which Wich
- Whitmore Ace Hardware
Thank you to the following individuals for their prize donations:
- Gerry & Alex Berzins
- Ursula Buchnat
- Donna & Tom Delso
- Mike Feminis
- Sherry & Dennis Jones
- Bob Martino
- Ann & Bill Moser
- Al & Sandie Peccia
- Jen & Karl Schissler
- Lisa & Rob Slovin
- Lenore & Len Wiencek
- Sandy & Jimmy Wolframski
Thank you Essendant Foundation
Thank you to Essendant Charitable Foundation for their generous contribution. Essendant has been a long-time contributor to the Foundation and we appreciate their support. Thank you to Debbie Young for nominating the Foundation to receive this grant.
In Loving Memory
We have received donations:
- In loving memory of Gene Roman, from Susan & Jeff Phillips
- In loving memory of Harlyn Hellem, from the Milani families
- In loving memory of Joy Young, from Jan Hanson & Jim Leslie
- In loving memory of Marge Leoni, from Gerry & Alex Berzins
- In honor of Carol Freelove, from Jenny & Karl Schissler
- In honor of Sandy Schissler, from Jenny & Karl Schissler
- In loving memory of John Freelove, from Jenny & Karl Schissler
- In loving memory of Walt Schissler, from Jenny & Karl Schissler
- In loving memory of Jan Schissler, from Jenny & Karl Schissler
- In loving memory of Barry Roman, from Karen Roman
- In loving memory of Jim Mandros, from Karen Roman
- In loving memory of Gene Roman, from Doloris & Dave Wyrobek
- In loving memory of Bob Thormann, from Doloris & Dave Wyrobek
- In loving memory of Hal Wurster, from Lind Wurster
- In loving memory of Ron Larson, from Hat Larson
- In loving memory of Patrick Bannon, from Lee Bannon
- In loving memory of James Wendling, from Sandy & Jimmy Wolframski
- In loving memory of Sharon Thiesen, from Sandy & Jimmy Wolframski