Monday Messenger Header 2012
Friday, July 31, 2015
In This Issue

 Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our videos on YouTube   View our photos on flickr
spot logo dark

For more information, 
to donate or volunteer visit our website:


333 S. Wabash
16th Floor
Chicago IL, 60604
 
(312) 822-6699 

The USO of Illinois   annually  serves over 300,000 service members and their families at 5 USO Centers and through hundreds of programs and services. 

donatelg
Join the USO of Illinois in support of the local military community at Clark After Dark, Chic ago's only downtown block party!

The event will feature live music by 16 Candles (Voted Chicago's Best Cover Band!) and Liquidated Damages, military vehicle displays, food and dr ink specials, raffle and much more!

VIP tickets available! This VIP Experience gives you access to all VIP areas, great food from restaurants like Chicago Cut Steakhouse and Bub City, and special drink options. Prices will go up at the door, so get these VIP Presale Tickets while they last!

This event is free to active duty, guard and reserve military with a valid military ID. 

Click here to buy your tickets today!

70 Local Auto Dealerships raise funds through the

USO BBQ for the Troops Initiative in July

Alison Ruble, President and  

CEO of USO of Illinois, and  

USO board member, Bruce Hopple,

visit Ray Chevy on July 18th!

For the past two years, in July, new car dealerships throughout Chicagoland have rallied together to raise funds for the USO of Illinois through the USO BBQ for the Troops Initiative. With the help and support of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), participating dealerships have raised over $125,000 in two years for the USO of Illinois to care for local military and their families. This year the dealerships are predicted to raise over $100,000!

 

On July 18 th, dealerships hosted individual BBQs at over 70 locations. Each dealership put a unique spin on their BBQ fundraiser. At Elmhurst Toyota staff members roasted a whole pig, while local military put patrons through a Marine style boot camp. Wickstrom Auto Group amped up the fun with a full size mountain avalanche rock climbing wall. Several dealerships including Sunrise Chevrolet, Napleton Auto Group, R ay Chevrolet, and Knuaz Autopark hosted car shows with a portion of the proceeds and entry fees going to support the initiative.

Alison Ruble, President and CEO of USO of Illinois, visiting with volunteers at Wickstrom Auto Group.

"Because car dealers are, in many cases, family-run businesses with deep roots in their communities, the partnership with the USO of Illinois is a natural fit for our members," said Mike McGrath Jr., CATA chairman. "We've had such great success so, this year, our goal is to create additional awareness by extending the message of the campaign through efforts like the month-long change drive program and social media campaign. This is truly a grassroots effort that has paid dividends, not just to the USO of Illinois in a literal sense, but to the area's new-car dealers who genuinely want to give back to those who have already given so much."

Drive 97.1 broadcasted live from the parking lot on July 18th at Raymond Chevrolet Kia.
This yea r the dealerships are extending their fundraising through the whole month of July with the Cup Holder Change Drive. Dealers are encouraging patrons who are getting their cars serviced to empty their loose change from their cup holders to support the cause.

"The support from the local dealerships has been overwhelming for the past three years. What we love about this program is it is local dealerships, reaching out to their community and supporting local military," said Alison Ruble, President and CEO of USO of Illinois. "Part of our mission, as the USO, is to be the bridge between the civilian and military community and with this July Initiative we are driving that point home."



Thank you to the CATA and all of the dealerships throughout the Chicagoland area that participated in BBQ for the Troops.

The Elmhurst Toyota BBQ with lots of great activities going on!
Partnership Profile: local restaurants Bub City
and the Local Option
step up support for local military

Bub City out at the United Center for the USO BBQ
for the Troops kick-off!

Chicago is known as a "foodie town" and it's no secret as to why. Each corner brings another delicacy or innovative restaurant. In 2008, the USO of Illinois began a partnership with one of Chicago's most popular BBQ joints, Bub City, when they became a vendor at the USO's annual street festival, Clark After Dark. Eric Rose, one of the partners of Bub City and Lettuce Entertain You, soon became an active advocate for the USO of Illinois.  

 

"My grandfather was an aeronautical engineer in the Air Force during World War II," says Rose. "I feel very connected to the military through my grandfather. I often notice service members in our restaurants in the Chicago area. We have such a heavy military presence from the Naval Station, I felt I needed a way to give back to these folks."

 

Bub City and Eric have steadily grown their partnership with the USO since their sponsorship in 2008. The restaurant now offers specials on Memorial Day, July Fourth, and Veterans Day where a portion of the restaurants proceeds go to support the USO and local military. During these special patriotic holidays the restaurant also offers a discount to members of the military with a valid ID.

 

In 2013, Eric became friends with Tony Russomanno, owner of the Local Option. The Local Option, a rock-and-roll dive bar in the thriving Lincoln Park neighborhood, was looking to expand their bar menu and asked Bub City to partner with them on an iconic, all American sandwich. When the brewer heard of Eric's work with the USO, he was ecstatic to jump on board. Now, once a week, Bub City donates smoked pork to the Local Option, and the proceeds of sandwich sales go to the USO of Illinois. That is how the "For the Troops, Pull Pork Sandwich" was born. Combining Bub City's Carolina style Berkshire pulled pork with the Local Option's signature drink, ensured that the "For the Troops" sandwich began to fly out of the kitchen.   

 

Tony Russomanno presenting a check to
the USO of Illinois' VP of Development, Jessica Dolan,
 at Bub City.

In the future, Bub City hopes to become more active with the USO and extend the current partnership to new heights as the USO of Illinois approaches their 75th anniversary.

 

"Working with the local charities to help influence the community around you is important to me and the rest of the partners at Lettuce Entertain You," says Eric. "It's great to see the money you donate be put to good use to impact those most in need. The guys at the Local Option have really stepped up to the cause."

 

Thank you to Bub City and the Local Option for being steadfast supporters of the USO of Illinois.

bluemissionphotos