Rosemont magically raises funds for veterans

More than 3,000 people recently attended a Halloween magic show at the Rosemont Theatre benefiting military personnel and their families.

The fundraising effort, organized by the village of Rosemont and Grand Dental, raised $30,000 for Arlington Heights-based Salute Inc. Proceeds from the ticket sales will be used to provide financial support for military men, women and their families.

At the beginning of the show, Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens presented the check to Salute Inc., and also announced he had secured additional donations to send a military hero and caregiver companion to a Chicago White Sox fantasy camp in January.

“We are proud and honored to support members of the military and their families,” Stephens said in a news release. “The contributions made by them every day are immeasurable, and on behalf of Rosemont, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for their service and sacrifice for our country.”

The show featured magician and dentist Mark Kaschube of the Grand Dental Group, who performed with an ensemble of tricksters.

Kaschube, who has been practicing dentistry for more than 20 years, regularly puts on magic shows at preschools, participates in parades, and started a magic program for children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Salute Inc. was founded in 2003 by Will and Mary Beth Beiersdorf of Arlington Heights. The nonprofit group has raised money for more than 300 military families nationwide and helps veterans injured in the line of duty, and military families suffering financial hardships. For information, visit saluteinc.org.