Des Plaines fundraiser scheduled to pay for boy's accessible van
A fundraiser is scheduled for Friday night in Des Plaines to help an Elk Grove Village family pay for a wheelchair-accessible van for 6-year-old Gabriel Gonzalez, who was born with cerebral palsy.
Since a Daily Herald story about Gabriel ran in May, organizers have raised several thousand dollars, but are still short of their goal to fund the $70,000 vehicle.
Gabriel's older brothers, 12-year-old Timothy and 8-year-old Samuel, even pitched in with $400 of loose change they collected.
Gabriel's family purchased the van, but financed part of the cost, which led family friend Rita Angelini to organize Friday's event to help the family pay off its $7,000 loan.
The fundraiser for Gabriel at Illusion Bar Grill Cafe, 659 N. Wolf Road, is planned for 6 p.m. in conjunction with the bar's second annual pig roast and Ducati motorcycle club event.
Donations can be made to The Friends of Nathan Foundation, 1061 Warwick Circle North, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169, and indicate Gabriel's van, or visit thefonf.org.