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Recent
Events
A Message
from the HeartSM
Family Days
October, 2011
October 2011 saw our most recent event held
for A Message From The Heart with the unit
Jonathan had deployed with to Iraq. It was
an honor to be able to provide the bears
with a message to these children in memory
of Jonathan, we know he would have been
proud. We had 124 children and as you can
see by the pictures, it was another
successful event!
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6th.
Annual Golf Outing at Gleneagles Country
Club
May 13,
2011
The LCPL Jonathan Collins Memorial Fund held
our 6th Annual Golf Outing Friday, May 13th.
Weather was fantastic and we had a record
number of golfers that participated. We were
happy to welcome 20 Marines that were able
to enjoy a wonderful day of golf, thanks to
our many Marine Sponsors. At the outing we
recognized Victor & Stephanie Betancourt and
the Foglia Foundation who each donated
$10,000 to the fund. Their generosity was
greatly appreciated. We are looking forward
to our next outing May, 2012 and hope to see
many new faces.
 
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A Message
from the HeartSM
Family Days
March
7 - 12, 2011
Thanks to the wonderful work of the Family
Readiness Officer for the 1st Marine
Regiment, our most recent event was a huge
success. We were able to provide a message
and bear to over 350 children. From infants
to young adults, the children were
absolutely thrilled to hear the message from
their parents. We were lucky to have
wonderful volunteers and great support at
each store.
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A Message
from the HeartSM
Family Days
November 12 - 13 and 19 - 20, 2010
In November 2010, we were thrilled to join
the families of the 2nd Battalion 1st
Marines at the Build-A-Bear Workshops in
Mission Viejo and Escondido, CA. With great
thanks to our supporters, it was our honor
to provide hundreds of A Message from the HeartSM
Comfort Bears to the children. Once
again, there were countless smiles, lots of
fun, and of course, many tears.
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A Message
from the HeartSM
Family Days
September 28, 2010
- October 2, 2010
“Thank you soooo soooo much!! My son
named his bear "dada" and does not let it
out of his sight!! He laid it down next to
him at bedtime and made him hold his picture
of daddy :)”
Stephanie M.
On Tuesday, September 28th, the
first family event for A Message from the
HeartSM was held at the Build A
Bear store in Mission Viejo, CA. We had
over 125 children that came, unaware that
their parent had left a special message for
them before they deployed. They were excited
to find out we were providing a bear for
them, but when they heard their message, the
response was overwhelming. It brought tears
to the eyes of everyone involved,
volunteers, parents, and store personnel.
One young boy listened to the voice chip and
proclaimed, “That’s my Dad!!!”
“Thank you so much for the Build-a-bears
today!!! Riley loves her bear and she
wouldn't let it go when we got home. That
was an unbelievably awesome thing you guys
did for the children! And we won't forget
it! ♥ ♥”
Vanessa S.
As the event progressed, these children were
able to interact and see that they were not
alone. They learned there are other children
whose parents are gone, gone to “work” for a
year as one boy told us. They sweetly shared
their parent’s message with each other, all
smiling ear to ear while they listened.
They all left the store holding tight to
their new bears and the beautiful message
inside.
“Thank you so much it was amazing and all of
my kids are sleeping with them in their arms
and a smile on their face.”
Kelly M.
The families were so grateful and thrilled with
the A Message from the HeartSM
Program and we, as a Fund, were so
excited to be able to share this day.
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A Message
from the HeartSM Recording Event
August
9, 2010
On Monday, August 9th, 2010 four board
members from the Memorial Fund flew out to
Camp Pendleton, CA to record voice messages
from members of the 1st Marine
Regiment and 1st Intel Battalion. These Marines will spend 1 year in
Afghanistan. For many of them and their families, this is one of many deployments.
The Marines know how hard it is for their
families when they are separated under these
circumstances. They were very grateful to be
able to provide this message to their
children and to know their children will
have this bear to comfort them in their
absence.
As one Marine stated,
“I like that my children can listen to my
voice on their time, not when I am able to
get to a phone or computer, but anytime they
feel the need to hear my voice”
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5th.
Annual Golf Outing at Gleneagles Country
Club
May 7,
2010
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CUBS vs.
HOUSTON
APRIL
18, 2010
The Cubs organization generously donated 15
tickets for some lucky Marines to come to
the Cub's vs Houston game on Sunday, April
18th. The Cubby Bear kindly reserved a
couple of tables for our Marines and even
gave us a discount...Thanks Cubbie Bear!!!
Marines truly enjoyed their time, even
though temperatures dipped into the low
40's. We bought some blankets and
sweatshirts, since we were all ill prepared
for that biting wind, but the Cubs kept us
entertained. Unfortunately they lost in the
10th, but nothing beats a game at Wrigley
Field. Thank you to the Cubs organization
for the wonderful donation. Thank you too,
for all the sacrifices that our United
State's Marines have given to their country.
"Just wanted to say thank you for the
incredible time yesterday. Even though we
could not Fly the W flag it still was
amazing to look around all the history of
Wrigley." Gunny Ski - GySgt. Michael
J.Michalski
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CRYSTAL
LAKE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER FIELD
DEDICATION
September 9,
2009
On September 9th, 2009, a beautiful fall
day, Crystal Lake South High School
dedicated a newly donated soccer field in
honor of 2003 graduate, LCPL Jonathan
Collins. The LCPL Jonathan Collins Memorial
Fund donated $100,000 to provide a field for
the soccer team Jonathan so loved. He played
all 4 years and started as goalie his senior
year.
The ceremony began with a presentation of
the American flag and the playing of our
national anthem by a member of the CLS High
School Marching Band. The Memorial Fund
provided both the home and opposing teams
with a Challenge Coin made specially for
this occasion. Challenge Coins have a long
military history and important significance
in marking any special event. The soccer
team completed the day with a win over the
opposing Belvedere team.
 
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THE 3rd
ANNUAL MEMORIAL GOLF OUTING
May 9,
2008
Memorial Golf Outing was held on May 9, 3rd
Annual LCPL Jonathan W. Collins Lemont, IL
was the perfect setting for the 188 golfers
who enjoyed the delightful 2008. The Glen
Eagles Golf Course in spring weather. A
complimentary continental breakfast was
followed by the shotgun start. The Lunch and
beverages were offered on the course. A
delicious sit down dinner was enjoyed by all
back at the Club House Restaurant. Then the
many valuable prizes were awarded and the
event enabled the Fund to raise $30,000 for
its beneficiaries.
   
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