Ald. Matthew O’Shea will host the 5th annual pancake breakfast benefiting the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation’s “Get Behind the Vest” initiative Sun., Feb. 24, 8 a.m. to noon, St. John Fisher School, 10200 S. Washtenaw Ave.
Admission is $5 per person or $25 for families. Funds will be used to help replace bullet proof vests for Chicago Police officers.
In addition to the pancake breakfast, Ald. O’Shea will be working with local schools to organize “dress down days” and other student-based fundraisers to raise additional funds for bullet proof vests. Since 2015, Ald. O’Shea has raised over $117,000 for the Get Behind the Vest initiative through the breakfast and school fundraisers in Beverly/Morgan Park and Mount Greenwood.
“A number of officers from the Chicago Police Department were killed in the line of duty in the last year, and now more than ever, we need to do all that we can to make sure our officers are given the tools they need to return home to their families at the end of their shifts,” said Ald.O’Shea. “The 19th Ward is home to hundreds of active and retired Chicago Police officers, and we understand the danger these men and women of the Chicago Police Department face each day. Through the tremendous support of the community, schools, and local businesses such as Original Pancake House – Beverly and Kean Gas Station, we want to help in protecting those who protect us.”
Bullet proof vests need to be replaced every five years, at a cost to police officers of about $500. Over the past five years, the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation has replaced 8,000 outdated bullet proof vests. To date, 44 Chicago Police officers’ lives have been saved by bullet proof vests. Last year, 149 officers were killed in the line of duty nationwide, with 52 of those lives being taken by gunfire.
Ald. O’Shea sits on the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation Advisory Board and the Chicago Police Chaplains Ministry Board of Directors.
The pancake breakfast is supported and co-hosted by the Original Pancake House – Beverly. All pancake batter, condiments and cooking supplies will be donated by the Harrigan Family, who have operated the Original Pancake House for more than 50 years. Additional sponsors include the 19th Ward Youth Foundation, Beverly Area Planning Association, Sen. Bill Cunningham, State Rep.Fran Hurley, Saint John Fisher Parish and Officer Mullens Apple Sauce.
For more information on the breakfast, call 773-238-8766. For more information on the vest initiative, visit www.getbehindthevest.org
