TFT Parade Collects Supplies for Victims of Katrina

The TFT Parade Organization will still be helping the Hurricane Katrina victims by collecting all sorts of items that are still needed by the evacuees.  Many items are needed, such as cleaning products (bleach, brooms, buckets, mops, gloves, towels, rakes, bags, brushes), personal grooming items (soap, shampoo, deodorant, aspirin, gauze, band-aids), clothes, and food items (soup, stews, rice, coffee, sugar, juice, beans, peanut butter and jelly).   We will be cooperating with the relief group "Fill Their Truck" and new TFT Parade Member Dave Kieffer.  For more information, and to see a list of what other supplies are needed, visit their web site at http://www.filltheirtruck.org/index.html .  PLEASE bring your donations to any TFT Parade meeting or make a donation at their web site.

TFT Parade Merchandise

The new, 2005 edition of the Chicago TFT Parade shirt is now available.  It features a return to the very first design of Biker Bear on his motorcycle. The line-up of TFT Parade products now includes a new thermal shirt, a new ladies-cut shirt, and a new, lightweight jacket. There is also a new TFT Parade Christmas Ornament for 2005, and this year it's green.  See all the new Parade merchandise at the Stempien VFW meetings and at the TFT Parade Wear House, located at 8900 South Odell Avenue, in Bridgeview.  The Parade Warehouse will be open for merchandise sales on the evening of Friday, November 25, from 7-10 pm. That's the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. And don't forget your 2005 Parade pins.  See the new 2005 line at http://chicagolandtft.org/products-two.htm .

TFT Parade Merchandise is also available at the official TFT Parade Merchandise Outlets, which are Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson at 11040 South Cicero Avenue in Oak Lawn, Chi-Town Harley-Davidson at 17801 South LaGrange Road in Tinley Park, and Illinois Harley-Davidson at 1301 South Harlem Avenue in Berwyn. For dealer phone numbers visit our links page at http://chicagolandtft.org/linksframe.htm . 

2006 TFT Parade Raffle

The 2006 TFT Parade Motorcycle Raffle is currently underway.  The Grand Prize will be a beautiful, cobalt blue, 2006 Harley-Davidson FLHXI Street Glide.  The drawing will be held at Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson on Saturday, March 18, 2006.  Tickets are $5 each, and to purchase tickets, come to the Parade meetings at the Stempien VFW and ask for John or Olivia, or email requests to the TFT Parade web site.  See photos of the bike, and more details, at The Parade web site http://chicagolandtft.org/products.htm . 

The second TFT Parade raffle is for a Sturgis Rally Vacation Package.  The winner will receive motel reservations and & spending money for the 2006 Black Hills Motorcycle Rally held in August.  Tickets are only $1 and can be purchased at all TFT Parade meetings.  The drawing will be held at the Supercycle Show and Parts Expo at McCormick Place on February 5, 2006.    

Exclusive Doubletree Hotel Rates for Parade Riders

The Doubletree Hotel Chicago-Alsip at 5000 West 127th Street, near Cicero Avenue and 127th Street, will again be supporting The TFT Parade, making this their third year, by offering rooms for the night before The Parade, at a special price of only $79.  To obtain this rate you must mention the Chicago Toys for Tots Parade.   The Doubletree Hotel has recently undergone a multi-million dollar renovation, so the hotel looks better than ever.  There is a secure parking lot next to the building, so folks with trailers should have no trouble finding suitable parking spaces. For reservations, call  708-371-7300 or 800-222-TREE or go to www.chicagoalsip.doubletree.com and use convention code TFY.

TFT Parade

The Chicago TFT Motorcycle Parade TV Show continues on Chicago Cable TV Channel 21.  Tune in to CAN-TV Channel 21 on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm and see Cooch, Tommy, Andy and their special guests as they spread the word about the TFT Motorcycle Parade. Call in with your Parade questions and comments.

And be sure to tune in to "KISS FM" 103.5 on Sunday, November 27 at 6:00 AM to hear a rebroadcast of an interview about The TFT Parade with our fearless leader Bob "Cooch" on the "In Your Community" program.

 The South Side Sox Win!

The Chicago TFT Motorcycle Parade started at Fantasy Choppers which was once located at 63rd Street and Maplewood Avenue, and The TFT Parade still continues to be headquartered on the famous South Side of Chicago.  Therefore, we want to congratulate our South Side neighbors, the Chicago White Sox, on their impressive World Series Sweep. 

Danielle Wetterer, the young daughter of TFT Parade member Dannette Wetterer, entered and won an essay contest, and Danielle then earned the honor of bringing the official first baseball out to the mound of Cellular Field for a World Series game played on the South Side.  Her presence must have brought the Sox the good fortune needed to win it all. Congratulations Danielle!  Congratulations to the 2005 Chicagoland White Sox!

Special Thanks

Thanks to Stars and Stripes in Bridgeview, who not only does a great job manufacturing our official Chicago TFT Parade shirts, caps, jackets, but has also donated a great deal of posters, flyers, bumper stickers and other items to The Parade Organization.  Thank you very much!  You guys are the best!

Special thanks to Smirf and Stone for a large contribution of cartons to hold the donations brought to schools, offices, and other businesses.

Thanks to the Turtle Wax Car Washes for adding their 15 locations as toy drop sites in Chicago and the suburbs.

Obtaining Toys

Many families ask about how to obtain toys for their children.  The thing to remember about obtaining toys is that the Marines do not give toys directly to children or families.  They are not equipped to do that.  The Marines and The Chicago TFT Parade Organization give the toys to neighborhood groups such as local churches, schools, hospitals, the DCFS, Catholic Charities, The Community Chest and other similar organizations.  Those looking for toys must contact one of these groups to obtain toys.

Archived 
Updates

#63
Oct.. 2005

#62
Sept. 2005

#61
June. 2005

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May. 2005

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Mar. 2005

#58
Feb..5 2005

#57
Jan..4 2005

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Dec.14 2004

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Dec. 7 2004

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Dec. 4 2004

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Dec. 2 2004

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Nov. 2004

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Oct. 2004

#50
Sept. 2004

#49
Sept. 2004

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Aug. 2004

#47
May. 2004

#46
Mar, 2004

#45
Feb, 2004

More archived updates here