Orland Park Donates More Than $33,000 To Veterans' Groups

Orland Park IL

09 December, 2021

2:33 PM

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By Jon DePaolis, Richard Free Press: ORLAND PARK, Ill. — Orland Park supports veterans. That was on full display Monday, Dec. 6, as the Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees dispersed funds collected during the annual Orland Park Veterans Golf Classic and various programs and events held by the Orland Park Veterans Commission in 2021. The Orland Park Veterans Golf Classic raised $25,694 and the Veterans Commission's total funds raised through events and programs was $33,194. The beneficiaries of the 2021 Orland Park Veterans Golf Classic and other fundraising events from the Veterans Commission were: $11,232 to the Veterans Voices military group; $4,856 to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post No. 2604; $5,106 to the American Legion Post No. 111; $3,000 to Honor Flight Chicago; $3,000 to Moraine Valley Community College for scholarships for veterans; $3,000 to PAWS Service Dogs; and $3,000 to Wreaths Across America. Mayor Keith Pekau thanked the Veterans Commission for their work that they do in Orland Park. He also gave a brief overview of the golf outing fundraiser, which he said goes back several mayoral administrations. "The history is that the mayor gets to choose who the beneficiaries are," said Pekau, who is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force. "When I took office, I wanted to change the beneficiary to veterans' groups, at which point there was an effort made to eliminate the golf outing. What I pushed for instead — because it was essentially [stated by the opposition] that we couldn't use Village staff for this [event], even though we always have in the past — was we not only made it for veterans, but we said it was going to be all volunteers. I forced the board to vote. Of course, they voted, after some consternation, unanimously to keep it as long as it was all volunteers." Pekau said it was "a no-brainer to [make veterans] the beneficiaries," as he wanted to choose a cause that was personal. "That first year, it was all volunteers," he said. "I know that some of the staff that was here during that time … and they volunteered by taking days off and taking PTO to volunteer to staff this event. It was the most successful mayor's outing that we've ever had, as far as how much we were able to give to the charities that were designated. Since that time, as we have a new board, we elected to allow staff in the Village to help with this event. "In the four years that the vets have been the beneficiaries, we've donated over $100,000 — closer to $120,000 — to veterans' groups." "Great work to all of staff, to all of the residents and businesses who have supported this, and also to all the veterans' groups who went out and garnered all this support." Trustee Sean Kampas also thanked the Veterans Commission and volunteers for their work in 2021. "I have seen it this year as a new trustee the amount of work and effort that you put into all of these programs," he said. "From the new banner program, the new concert series to memorial events — they are all outstanding, and I encourage everyone in our Village to come out to attend these events. They are always extremely well done, and these folks put in a lot of hard work." Richard Free Press is a one-stop destination for the news that most affects you, the southwest suburban resident. Be an informed citizen of the town you live in and love.