CHICAGO - The Chicago Fire is proud to announce that the club's charitable arm, the FireWorks For Kids Foundation (FWFK), in partnership with the Airoom Foundation, made a substantial donation to the Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago in a check presentation ceremony held earlier today at Children's Memorial.
Children's Memorial Hospital representatives met representatives from both the FWFK and the Airoom Foundation to receive a check representing over $87,000 that was contributed from donations generated from the 2nd Annual Fall Family Festival, which was held on Sep. 24 at Quig's Apple Orchard in Mundelein, IL. All donated proceeds will benefit pediatric heart care programs at Children's Memorial. Representing the Airoom Foundation at today's ceremony were Chairwoman Maryfran Klein, Mike Klein, Marc Rush and Stewart Schechter, while CEO Donald Ortale, Executive Director Jessica Yavitz and Marc Walanka were in attendance on behalf of the FireWorks for Kids Foundation.
Children's Memorial Hospital is a unique facility devoted solely to the care and treatment of children from the Chicagoland area, across the country and around the world. With almost 4,000 of the best and brightest physicians, nurses and staff, this facility is consistently ranked among America's foremost pediatric hospitals. Last year alone, Children's Memorial cared for nearly 93,000 children.
"Children's Memorial is grateful to the Airoom Foundation and FireWorks for Kids for their generous support," said Tom Sullivan, President of Children's Memorial Foundation. "These vital funds will go to support the Department of Cardiology and help save and improve the lives of many of our young patients."
The FireWorks For Kids Foundation (FWFK) is the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire. Since 1998, FWFK has been providing financial grants to organizations whose programs forward recreational and educational opportunities for economically or otherwise challenged children throughout Chicagoland. Since its inception, FWFK has funded over $500,000 to such organizations.
"The Airoom Foundation and FireWorks for Kids partnership has been very rewarding and worthwhile," said Ortale. "We are tremendously honored to have played a role in developing funds that will be used to improve the lives of others."
The Airoom Foundation is a not-for profit organization committed to supporting the children, schools, parks and activities of Chicagoland communities. Reaching beyond the expected needs of a community, the activities and architecture of the Airoom Foundation impacts and enhances all lives, especially the lives of children.
"This is a wonderful experience donating a large charitable amount for such a worthy cause," said Walanka, the Fire's Airoom Foundation representative. "It's a testament to all the hard work the FireWorks for Kids staff and Airoom Foundation board members have given this past year. It's quite fitting that during this holiday season these two organizations have pooled their resources together to assist the less fortunate."
Photographs from today's ceremony will be available for viewing on the Fire's official website, www.Chicago-Fire.com, beginning Wednesday.
