The Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast will be a dine-in event Sun., Feb. 19, Kane Hall, St. John Fisher Church, 102oo S. Washtenaw Ave. Admission is $5 per person or $25 per family, with pancakes and sausage from Original Pancake House Beverly.
The all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, now in its ninth year, is hosted by 19th Ward Ald. Matt O’Shea’s and benefits the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation for purchasing bulletproof vests for Chicago Police officers.
A mass for police officers, their families, and supporters precedes the breakfast at 8 a.m.; breakfast continues until noon.
Leading up to the breakfast, Feb. 12 to 18, Kean Gas Station, 2632 W. 111th St., will donate 15 cents for every gallon of gas sold to the Get Behind the Vest Campaign. This effort is sponsored by Kean Gas Station, Beverly Bank & Trust, and AthleteX.
WGN 720AM Radio’s Sweet Home Chicago with David Hochberg has again partnered with Ald. O’Shea for a “Vest-a-Thon” Fundraiser airing on Sat., Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to raise funds for Get Behind the Vest bulletproof vests.
The broadcast will feature stories of police officers who have been impacted by bullet proof vests.
Donations can be made online at cpdvest.com, or by calling 872-262-8378 (VEST).
“Chicago Police officers are on the front lines every day to ensure our safety, and it is important that we do what we can to send them home safely to their families at the end of each shift,” O’Shea said. “It is imperative the Chicago Police officers have access to up-to-date bulletproof vests with the latest technology advancements, and the funds raised through the Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast and Vest-A-Thon will help to provide that.”
In the past nine years, Ald. O’Shea’s Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast has raised more than $500,000. Bullet proof vests cost about $600 each and need to be replaced every five years. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has replaced more than 11,000 vests, with an annual goal to replace 500 vests for officers each year.
The Get Behind the Vest Pancake Breakfast is co-hosted by St. John Fisher Parish, the Harrigan Family and the Original Pancake House-Beverly.
For more information the pancake breakfast or the Get Behind the Vest initiative, 773-238-8766 or visit the19thward.com.
