The LCPL Jonathan W. Collins Memorial Fund and Foundation

LCPL Jonathan W. Collins, proud member of the 1st Marine Division, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, gunner for Fox Company 2nd platoon, lost his life on August 8, 2004 while serving his country in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jonathan, at the young age of 19, went to Iraq proud of what his unit was trying to accomplish and truly believed they could help the Iraqi people. He was always point man for his platoon because of his easygoing gentle nature. Especially, he loved the Iraqi children trying to reach out to them in friendship and change their understanding of Americans. Jonathan was a courageous and determined young man. He was quick to give a smile and a kind word. He left this world a hero.

His family and friends, so proud of the life that he lived, started the LCPL Jonathan W. Collins Memorial Fund to keep his memory and the memory of his sacrifice alive.

To date, the Fund has donated in excess of $100,000. All of the money donated goes into the Fund. The board members are volunteers. In addition to the Toy's for Tots and the scholarship in his name at his alma mater, Crystal Lake South High School, the Fund has donated to the building of the LCPL Jonathan W. Collins Youth Center in Oak Lawn, IL. The building will house the gymnasium and activity center for St. Gerald’s elementary school. It will benefit the school’s students, grades 1 through 8. The Fund has also provided funding to Crystal Lake South High School for an Athletic Wall of Fame, a new theatre curtain, an activity display case, and most recently, a brand new state of the art soccer field.

The Fund has also donated to individuals and wounded heroes. One individual was Michael Reagan of the Fallen Heroes Project. Michael is an artist who provides portraits of the fallen to their families for free of charge.  Michael is a nationally known artist and his portraits have touched so many families of our fallen heroes.  You can visit him at www.michaelgreaganartist.com.

On behalf of the LCPL Jonathan W. Collins Memorial Fund, we would like to thank you for your generous contribution. Our hope is that through this Fund we will keep not only the memory of Jonathan and his sacrifice alive, but also assist the many groups that benefit from the Fund.

BOARD MEMBERS

Jack & Angel Collins

John & Alice Collins

Dan Collins

Amy Collins-Suessen

Vince Baratta

Belinda Baratta

Matt Downs

Brittany Lane

Joanie Kessler

Contact: 815-444-7631

LCPL JONATHAN W. COLLINS FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT

The LCPL Jonathan Collins Memorial Fund and Foundation was started to keep Jon’s memory and the memory of his sacrifice alive. Its mission is to support causes and organizations which reflect Jonathan's character, commitment and compassion. We strive to do this through increasing awareness, inspiring patriotism and raising funds in the hope of helping to sustain these causes and organizations in their existence and financial needs.

The LCPL Jonathan W. Collins Memorial Fund is a 501 C (3) Non-Profit Organization established in 2005. We are committed to remembering Jonathan's courageous service and ultimate sacrifice by honoring his giving spirit.

A Message from the Heart^SM Mission Statement

As a subset of the Foundation’s mission, A Message from the Heart’s^SM mission is to support Jonathan's fellow service men and women, as well as their families, in times of deployment. The LCPL Jonathan Collins Foundation raises funds to provide children of deploying Marines and military personnel the opportunity to create their own Build-A-Bear “A Message from the Heart^SM” Comfort Bear. The bear contains a voice chip with a personally recorded message from the deploying parent. These comfort bears allow the deploying parent to leave a message, from their heart, to their child, that the child can listen to on their time, and on their terms, whenever they need to hear their parent’s voice.