Opinion

Thanks for help at fundraiser

Posted December 06, 2007 10:00 pm

We would like to thank all of the people who attended or sponsored the Plate of Pasta fundraiser that was held on Nov. 16 at the VFW hall in St. Charles. It was a huge success!

This event was organized in order to help Mark and Gina Schiltz of St. Charles, whose fifth child, their infant son, Fintan (Finn), is awaiting a heart transplant at Children's Memorial Hospital. Finn was born with a damaged aortic valve and a non-functioning left ventricle. Finn is otherwise a strong baby, but as he grows his heart will be unable to support him. Finn needs a heart in order to live.

Mark was on unpaid leave from his job, and is now back part time to allow himself to have enough time to take off after the transplant, as the Family Medical Leave Act only allows for 12 work weeks of unpaid leave. After the transplant, both parents will need to go through extensive training on how to care for Finn and will need to be at the hospital as much as possible in those first few critical months following the transplant.

Friends of the Schiltz family pulled together and organized the fundraiser to help take the financial burden off the family. More than 700 people were served and almost 100 silent auction items were bid on and won by those wanting to help. When it was over, we had raised enough money to pay expenses for the family for a few months.

We are deeply grateful to those who have donated to the Schiltz family. We are profoundly touched by your care and compassion. For those of you who were unable to come to the fundraiser, but still want to help with the family's expenses, an account was established for this purpose. Below is the information on how to make a donation.

Please be sure to include the account number on your check.

Make checks payable to: The Fintan Patrick Schiltz Fund Account #: 4500232949

Mail checks to: Remittance Processing Dept. Charter One Bank P.O. Box 42006 Providence, RI 02940-2006 or, you may drop the check off at any Charter One location.

For those of you who are unable to contribute financially, but still want to help baby Finn, we ask that you pray for Finn to receive the heart he needs. And to all of you who have helped the family by donating, praying or sponsoring the fundraiser, it is our sincere hope that someday Finn will be able to thank you himself.

Plate of Pasta Fundraiser Organizers

AnnMarie Creedon

St. Charles

Kerry Knott

Batavia

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