News

Arlington Hts. firefighters triple last year’s MDA fundraising

Posted June 21, 2011 12:00 am

Submitted by Ted Peterson, Arlington Heights Fire Department

Some of the Arlington Heights Fire Department personnel who participated in the MDA drive sit for a photo. Top row, John Simon, left, and Marty Moran. Middle row, from left: Mark Harris; Ross Chapman; Bill Yowell; Marc Piscitiello; Kert Evans; Lt. Carl Brandon; Commander Tom Zerfass; E.J. Mampe. Bottom row: Phil Palczynski; John Volz; Lt. Mike Nolan; Lt. Curt Hanselman; Bob Barone; Reggie Castillo; MDA Ambassador Seth Goldberg; Ted Peterson; Jake Mampe; Tony Piccolo.* Courtesy of Arlington Heights Fire Department

The Arlington Heights Fire Department’s drive to raise money to find a cure for Muscular Dystrophy this year more than doubled the best year they ever previously had.

This year, the fire department MDA effort raised $14,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Last year the effort raised $4,800 and three years ago they reached their previous high water mark of $6,800.

“But, we feel we are just getting started,” writes Ted Peterson, the fire department’s MDA coordinator. “We have set up a website, www.iafflocal3105.org/mda.html, where individuals or businesses can go online and make a secure donation, where 100 percent of the proceeds go to the Arlington Heights MDA Fill the Boot Campaign.

Peterson said Forest View Elementary, the school of 7-year-old Luciano Ortiz, who has Duchenne’s, put together their own fundraiser for Luciano, where they collected money through students.

“The donations were then hand delivered to our MDA Boot Drive location at Palatine and Arlington Heights Road by the teachers and Principal Meg Weickert herself,” Peterson said in a news release. “We had another family who read (the Daily Herald article about the drive) and brought a $500 check for MDA to one of our firehouses the day of the Boot Drive.

We would like to thank the local businesses — Arlington Heights Ford, Gatsby’s, Valli Produce and Mariano’s Fresh Market for their contributions to this cause, and thank everyone who participated and donated,” Peterson said.

Further, the MDA Summer Camp is being held this week in Ingleside. The camp, which runs one week a year for children over 6, allows the kids to do activities they normally would not be able to do. Some of the Boot Drive money goes toward sending kids to camp.

* Other personnel who participated in the MDA drive but are not in the photograph: Chief Glenn Ericksen; Deputy Chief Kenny Koeppen; Deputy Chief Bernie Lyons; Rob Losik; Lt. Rick Manthy; Lt. Ray Loch; Andy Benkert; Tom Whitt; John Jarosz; Mark Aleckson; Les East; Jim Klein; Jason Dexter; Sebastian Parker; Jim Braniff; Eric Koch; Ben Kimmel; Casey Krzeczkowski; Matt Yegge; Rich Davis; Lt. Perry Howard; Matt Murphy; Chad Queckbonner; Lt. Mark Retel; Tom House; Scott Vasicek; Dave Roberts; Lt. Dwayne Wood; Jeff Wood; Union President Lt. Bill Kidd; Bill Casper; Rick Stecki; and the Brandon family.

Back left, Lucianos parents, Dan and Maria Ortiz; back right, John Katsiambis, owner of Gatsbys, presents Seth Goldberg, center, and Ted Peterson with a check. Next to Mr. Katsiambis is Amber Pichiotino of MDA. Courtesy of Arlington Heights Fire Department

Arlington Heights Ford General Manager Tony Guido presents Ted Peterson with a check for MDA. Courtesy of Arlington Heights Fire Department

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.