THANK YOU CHICAGOLAND, MOTORCYCLIST, AND VOLUNTEERS
For Our 32nd Annual Chicagoland Toys for Tots
Motorcycle Parade
Good Morning, Kudos once again to all of
Chicagoland on a successful and safe 32nd annual
Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade. This year we had a high
of 37 degrees and it was DRY. So it felt like a Florida like day,
due to the last few wintry years of having bone-chilling
temperatures that might have deterred some, due to it being too
cold. This year we heard we had 7000? 10,000? or maybe 25,000
motorcycles participating …a neighborhood paper stated over 20,000.
It nice to know the amount of riders, but the more important figure
is how many toys were donated? We were informed after unloading 3
truckloads that day, that over 45,000 toys were delivered, so
back extrapolate that into bikes ridden for the day? Anybody good in
algebra or in logarithms? So thank you, thank you, thank you.
Especially all those motorcycle riders that
sent the message by parading down Western this year, that Christmas
has officially started in Chicago. If you had put away your bike for
storage or if it was still too cold, you can still make a child
smile by delivering a brand new toy. Thank you to all who rode, for
dealing with some logistic problems upon traveling near Lane Tech
High School. This was a new ending location for us, so we had a few
hiccups that day. We do apologize about the delays, but we thank you
for your patience and understanding. Hoping to be back on track and
to the Marine Center on Foster next year.
Again as previously stated what this parade
does… It starts the Christmas Spirit in Chicago, no matter
what the weather is. Christmas is always on the 25th of
December and the motorcycle parade is always the First Sunday in
December .The thanksgiving parade gives thanks, but this parade
for the last 32 years has been the true spirit of making a needy
child smile at Christmas…which really is the essence of Christmas to
give to those without. When do you see a bigger smile from a child
when receiving a toy maybe his birthday? But Santa Claus does not do
birthdays, as long I as I can remember since riding motorcycles, he
always has come the first weekend in December in Chicago. He has not
missed, rain, snow or shine to aid toy deliveries to the USMC Toys
for Tots Program that day and to assist the Motorcycle Parade toy
committee.
As you should know by now, one does not have
to ride in the parade to help us. But it is indeed those big-hearted
cheery bikers rumbling down Western Avenue for nearly 17 miles that
crescendo the message that the season of giving to aid needy
children has started. So again you can still bring us a brand new
toy ……please go to our web site to find a drop location or contact
us via our Hot line to find out how to make a toy donation. Our toy
committee and wonderful volunteers are now handling hundreds of
letters to aid those whom might go without. We do our best to have
all the toys donated, delivered by Christmas, but throughout the
year we aid those without, with whatever we can, whenever we can.
As you
know or not…this events happens due to many helping us so
THANK S TO THE FOLLOWING:
The Honorable Mayor of Chicago, Richard M.
Daley, Steve Wagner and the City of Chicago Special Events Staff,
the Chicagoland Police Department, Streets and Sanitation, OEMC, the
CTA, and the Cook County Forest Preserve. Big thanks to Lane Tech
High School for newly hosting the arrival of thousands of bikers to
drop of toys. The blockers along Western among them: the Chicago,
South Suburban and Westgate Abate Chapters, Grand Prairie Bus
Service, AVMRA Chapter 7,LAMAS, Green Ribbon Rally, Hog Chapters,
Patriot Riders, Chi -Town Mustang, Illinois Freedom Riders, Brothers
of the Third Wheel (BTW), all the CMA Chapters, the Van Clubs, Blue
Steel MC, Rescue Riders, the Bearables, Roberto Clemente High
School, Stars and Stripes Silk Screening, City News Hound, Hanover
Park Emergency Units, Central Printers & Graphics, Medinah Shriners,
Chicago, Illinois and Oak Lawn Harley Davidson Dealers, AMVRA
Chapter 10, Elmwood Police Department, Widows Sons, Tow Trucks for
Tots, Overt Printing, Southwest News-Herald, the Aviation Police, La
Grou Cartage ,Larry’s Cartage, the Teamsters, Stewarts Coffee and
all the wonderful businesses along the route cheering us on …and
many of them donating free food and beverages afterward to warm the
riders on the way home. I might have missed some call outs, but God
bless you for whatever your contributions for making it a safe and
successful day for collecting over 45,000 toys.
THANKS to our Grand Marshall Santa Claus and
his Elves:
whom safely
rode their White Harley Davidson’s from the North pole to start the
Christmas cheer. He has connections and was able to delay the snow
flurries till Monday, thereby meeting Biker Bear, Flakey or is it
Snowflake, and Whiplash the reindeer along the way. He truly loves
leading thousands of iron reindeers (motorcycles) decorated with
toys to aid needy kids, as opposed
to falling in chimneys and soothing
up his suit.
THANKS to Santo Procenti
the President of Chicagoland Toys for Tots
Motorcycle Parade:
all
his board of Directors and all the over 500 Motorcycle Parade
volunteers for their wonderful committed dedication for our iconic
reputation. From the North side to the South side for whatever you
did to make it a safe parade for the nearly 10,000 riders to aid the
62nd annual USMC Toys for Tots program on 12/6/09.
LASTLY THANKS to everyone whom
helps, however they can
(for those I missed THANKING)
May
you all have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year and as Santo
Procenti states it is all about TEAMWORK. So next year for
the 33rd annual (12/5/2010), if not a
volunteer … become one of Chicagolands longest running charities and
traditions, to aid needy children at Christmas. Visit our web site
to see how to become involved at:
www.chicagolandTFT.org or contact us via our Hot Line at:
773-866-TOYS.
Sincerely,
Formerly the little Big Guy and sometimes PR /
TFT volunteer #128
Robert “Cooch” Kuczera,
PS. For TFT members do not forget to see our
friend Michael “Joker” Bending. He finally will be starting physical
therapy, hopefully 3 days a week at Schwab Rehabilitation. But all
friends are still needed to visit him to lift up his spirits and to
keep him mentally active, as he now has been bed ridden nearly 6
months. It starts to get old and depressing and he needs to see some
recognizable faces. You can visit him at Alden-Town Manor
(708-863-0500), which is at 6120 S Ogden Avenue in Cicero, Room 220.
It is just southwest of the intersection of Ogden and Austin on the
North side of the street. For more information go to his web site at
http://jumpn4joker.web.com and keep praying for him, as he has a
long road ahead him.
