Foundation aims to improve medical care for veterans
Roy and Georgette Frank of Elk Grove Village vowed to turn their grief into something positive when their son, Lance Corp. Phillip Frank, was killed in Iraq.
Nearly four years later, they have made good on their promise, and then some.
The couple formed the "Heart of a Marine Foundation" in 2005, and since that time they have searched for projects to back that would improve the lives of veterans and their families.
Some of those have included contributing more than $100,000 to families of deployed military personnel, undergoing difficulties. They also have provided 800 orthopedic canes to veterans recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.
Saturday, they held the foundation's major fundraising event, the "Hearts of Valor Ball" at the Meridian Banquets in Rolling Meadows, that had a patriotic feel to it.
Approximately 335 people attended, including representatives from the Marine Corps, the Army, and Navy, as well as gold star families, the Elk Grove Village board of trustees, and area supporters.
Speakers included Joe Cantafio of South Barrington, leader of the 101st Rock Division band, who announced details of his world tour that he is launching this spring at military bases overseas and across the country, called "We'll Take It From Here."
Guests also heard from Roy Frank about the foundation's most ambitious project to date, providing Aphasia interactive rehabilitation software to veterans with traumatic brain injury.
In the coming months they hope to donate 15 computers equipped with the software to Hines Veterans' Administration Hospital in Maywood.
"We want to donate enough of them, so that their access is unlimited," Roy Frank said. "We want them to be accessible to vets when they need them."
Making improved care accessible to veterans, continues to drive the couple, and their foundation.
"We want to be the people that catch everyone who falls through the cracks in the system," Frank said. "It's amazing that a relatively small amount of money can make such an impact on the life of a veteran."