Round Lake area rallies around struggling family
Yellow and purple balloons marked the entrance to Round Lake Beach's Cultural and Civic Center Sunday as more than 500 people teamed up for Tepperfest, a large fundraising effort to help a struggling Round Lake Beach family.
As the Round Lake Area Community Band played patriotic music, people gathered around the raffle and silent auction tables consisting of watercolor paintings, autographed sports memorabilia, and baskets of kitchenware and scrapbooking items, the proceeds of which would help the Tepper family, who recently just lost wife and mother, Debbi Tepper, and are facing foreclosure on their home.
On May 29th, Tepper died leaving behind her husband, George Tepper, who is currently in need of a second kidney transplant. The couple has two children, a 12-year-old son Brandon Tepper and 23-year-old daughter Jamie Cieplinski.
Debbie Tepper was diagnosed with an unexplained illness that attacked her body to the point of being paralyzed. Her condition worsened and she was eventually put on life support. Tepper passed away on the same day the family learned they were facing foreclosure on their home.
"She was very neighborhood oriented, and knew many people in the community," said her husband, George Tepper. "She would help out neighbors, their kids, anyone who needed her. Other people always came first."
For all the time Tepper gave to her community and neighbors, they gave back to both her and her family Sunday at Tepperfest. After 3 weeks of passing our fliers, a group of neighbors called the Team Up for the Teppers organization sent out e-mails, wrote national blogs and went door-to-door to promote the fundraiser. The neighborhood organization has already raised $35,000 toward their goal of $200,000 for saving their house.
"Many of the neighbors have been working mornings, afternoons and nights to get Tepperfest going," said Lori Koons, Tepperfest event coordinator. "We are a determined group taking a stand for this family who has this tragedy come upon them. We are not giving up until we have accomplished our goal."
At Tepperfest, there was live entertainment from the Wynd Gypsies and local band Aaron House, canine demonstrations by the Round Lake Police Department, kids' games, complimentary drinks from Starbucks and food from Mitch's Chicago Style Grill.
Additional fundraisers for the Tepper family are planned July 18 at Mitch's Chicago Style Grill, Aug. 1-7 at Uno's Chicago Grill in Gurnee, and Aug. 26 at Sammies in Round Lake Beach. For more information visit debbitepper.com
"I don't know how to say thank you enough to all of the people that made it for the fundraiser," said Jamie Cieplinski. "My mom always did things for other people and it's nice to know people remembered her kindness and are helping our family through this."