Dezil's Dispatch is sponsored by the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund. |
|
Welcome to our new quarterly newsletter!
In each edition of Dezil's Dispatch, we will share exciting news of our happenings and accomplishments. Family and friends will give us "A Dose of Dennis" so you will learn more about our hero and son.
|
|
|
|
And so the life of Dennis begins....
Many people know of 1Lt Dennis W. Zilinski, II either through the Army, West Point, and/or just from our Memorial Fund. However, Dennis was a lot more. He was a son, a grandson, and a brother first. An uncle, a cousin, a fiancé, and a great friend. Albeit extremely way too short... he lived his life filled with joy and so much love.
If you'd like to share a short story about Dennis in an upcoming issue, please send us an email at runwithdennis@yahoo.com.
|
|
Your Donations at work:
Warrior Gary & K9 Duke
Pictured here is Duke with his Warrior from NJ, Gary. The Zilinski Memorial Fund, with donations generously given by Mr. & Mrs. Zetler sponsored the training of Duke. He was a part of the K9s graduating class back in February 2020. We are super excited for this duo, they are doing great together!
“When we go to an appointment or if we stop at a restaurant he is perfect. I have been very pleased with Duke, he's been a blessing." - Gary
|
|
Help Us Spread the Word!
An urgent COVID-19 capital campaign is underway by The Zilinski Memorial Fund so we can help more American heroes and continue our mission.
Our American veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) need us more than ever during this pandemic. The isolation of staying home without essential services and schedules has been especially difficult for our wounded veterans. They need service dogs to give them purpose and protection, yet far too many of them remain on wait lists to receive this lifeline.
Unfortunately, donations we have received for service dog sponsorships have dropped 80 percent during the pandemic and COVID economy. As a result, we could only sponsor a small fraction of the service dogs we have sponsored in previous years.
While other nonprofits have received state and federal relief dollars to continue their fine work, we have not. Still, the needs of our deployed servicemen and servicewomen in foreign countries continue. Even when we receive donated items like deodorant, underwear, socks, tubes of shaving gel, razors, and other personal care items, The Fund must absorb the astronomical cost of shipping.
The financial support of the public is urgently needed to give our soldiers who protect our freedom what they deserve. Please give what you can and share with your friend.
|
|
Way to Go, PSEG Employees! |
|
Thank you, PSEG employees! The gifts you sent our servicemen and servicewomen will surely make 2021 brighter for them as they continue fighting for our freedom overseas!
“It started with an email to PSEG Veterans, then a second email to all PSEG employees. I asked them if they’d like to participate in our company’s annual holiday collection for deployed troops, only this year it would have a virtual twist,” said Cindy Malmo, Sr. Administrative Associate at PSEG in Newark, NJ.
Malmo is a Gold Star Mother, so this effort holds a special place in her heart. Her son, Staff Sgt. Michael Hullender of Little Falls, New Jersey, an Army medic, was killed at the age of 29 in 2007 in Iraq after an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit as he prepared wounded soldiers for medical transport. Hullender was a decorated soldier who was among those who parachuted into Afghanistan soon after the September 11th attack. He was awarded a Bronze Star and also earned numerous medals and recognitions including the National Defense Service Medal, The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Iraq Campaign Medal.
|
|
In past years, PSEG has partnered with A.R.M.S. to send its holiday collections to troops overseas, but the organization ceased operations. So, Malmo turned to our Gold Star Mother and Co-Founder, Marion Zilinski, for help through the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund to get goodies like protein bars, deodorant, coffee K-cups, beef jerky, canned soups, and Gatorade drink packets to our deployed troops in countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Korea, Guam, Germany, and the USS Princeton.
Marion says, “It was wonderful to receive the call from Cindy about her ‘Virtual Holiday Collection’. She told me that knowing the generosity of her fellow PSEG colleagues, it’s likely to be an enormous amount of supplies and goodies. She wanted to know if we could handle the volume. Immediately, I said, ‘Yes!’ Soon after that call, the packages started arriving at our doorstep to box up and mail out to our service members. It has been non-stop, and we could not be happier about it!”
|
|
Thank You, Thorne Middle School! |
|
Our sincere appreciation goes out to staff at Thorne Middle School in Middletown! They couldn’t do their annual care package drive for our troops this year due to COVID, so instead teachers did their own monetary collection to assist with The Memorial Fund’s shipping of boxes to our service members overseas! We are grateful for the $1500 they sent us! We look forward to next year when we can safely visit the school once again and speak to students about the sacrifices our troops make to protect our freedom. THANK YOU, Thorne Middle School! |
|
|
COMING SOON: Our annual Jersey Shore BlueClaws Baseball Outing TBD |
|
The Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law (Tax ID # 03-0601077). |
|
Shop Amazon? Use AmazonSmile the same way and simply generate donations for us!
|
|
Check us out on social media |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
