On April 25, a group of volunteers decided to bring some cheer to those devastated by the tornado that ravaged Utica, Illinois. Parade website Editor Jack Voss sent out an E-mail message informing anyone interested in assisting Utica, to meet at The Parade Warehouse in Bridgeview, Illinois. About 20 motorcyclists showed up including volunteers from the Fox Valley Valkyrie Club. The agenda was to bring some cheer to the community with a disbursement of toys for the children and Parade sweatshirts for adults. At The Parade Warehouse they gathered up over 400 toys and sweatshirts for their goodwill run. Admission to the town was restricted, but while awaiting a call from a Red Cross co-coordinator for passes to town, they were asked if they could aid in the kitchen. The emergency center help to prepare food for those volunteers already working in town. The bikers showed their kitchen skills by expediently slicing, celery, onions and potatoes to feed the volunteers. 
It seemed some of the bikers had some prior KP experience. Honorably the award for doing the most should go to Ed"Aminal" Wisniewski who made a surprise visit to aid the victims. Ed birthed the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade. He founded the motorcycle organization with his wife (Karla) back in 1978. As you known it has become one of the most benevolent motorcycle organizations in Chicagoland. Eventually, approval was given for to deliver the toys and clothing into the town. The bikers split into two groups. One group distributed the gifts they delivered to those in need in the school gym. The others assisted in cleanup of the baseball field and surrounding areas near the elementary school. The residents, including the Mayor, thanked the riders for the concern and assistance that day. Thank you to all that participated in aiding those in Utica. May their future show them brighter days!

On May 16 many members participated in two very worthwhile benefits. The Little Angel’s Run in Elgin and the Park Lawn Ride in Oak Lawn. Toy members delivered some Parade memorabilia for door prizes and checks for $1000 for each of the events. The 17^th Annual Little Angels Pledge Run had over 3000 motorcyclists participating. After the riders return to the starting location at the Elgin Community College the fund-raising began. From raffle tickets to auctioned items, the afternoon agenda is basically to raise some money. By about mid-afternoon they had raised over $138,000 dollars in pledges for the home. Thank you Elgin Hog and all those who contributed via donations to assist raising some cash. For more information on this ride visit: www.littleangelsrun.org.

The 7^th annual Park Lawn’s 7th Big Bikes Big Hearts Poker Run had over 700 participants. The hundred-mile ride started at Oak Lawn Harley Davidson. All proceeds raised that day are used to assist individuals with developmental disabilities. Once again the good guys and girls wearing black were able to so. Mark Miller motorcycle coordinator for this event stated that nearly $15,000 was given back to the Park Lawn facility. Kudos to those who gave. For more info on the Park Lawn facility call: 708-425-4344.

Once again we were one of the event sponsors for The Second Annual Chicago Green Ribbon Rally. It was held on Sunday, June 13, 2004. It was a pledge rally with the donations assisting the UIC –GILD (Gastro Intestinal Liver Disease). This year the biggest difference was that there were three observation rides. All the rides took riders past some of the most famous landmarks of Chicago. All ride participants The Rally location was once again Plumber’s Hall at 1340 W. Washington, Chicago, Ill. It was a fun day with music, by County Roads Band and the Siderunners. Home Run Inn was providing all you can eat sustenance. There were live auctions, raffles, club attendance awards, and a people’s vote bike show and a special celebrity appearance. George Wendt (Yes "Norm" from Cheers) gladly posed for pictures. The mahogany bar at the hall is very Cheers like. It lends itself to Norm’s classic beer mug picture. There were some neat auction items among them a very large Biker quilt, made from some of the finest motorcycle organizations and dealer shirts from the Chicagoland area. There were some collectible signature items donated by Chris Carr and Gary Nixon for auction items. Anyone interested in motorcycle racing history memorabilia found something of interest. Many of our friends were there as Illinois Harley Davidson and LAMAS were also major sponsors and were supporting and promoting this cause to raise money for Gastro Intestinal Liver Disease Research. For more information still call: 866-842-2003 or visit their website at www.greenribbonrally.com.

Ride for Kids is on Sunday, July 18^th. This motorcycle ride raises funds for further research to defeat Pediatric Brain Tumors. It is nationally known and has had a tremendous success rate in combating this challenge. One of their coordinators whom happen to be one of the Toys for Tots members (Phil Dustin) is seeking out additional volunteers. If you are interested in traffic control they can use additional road blockers. The ride will pass through 183 intersections. This ride that assist children with brain tumors research starts at the Allstate HQ in Northbrook. Registration is from 7am to 9:15am.They do need the help, as it is generally a very huge turnout. If you are interested in helping that day you may call Phil Dustin at: 847-875-6690. Or visit http://www.ride4kids.org/ .

On Sunday, August 29 Toys for Tots will be doing our annual St. Joseph’s Center Ride in Bike Show. We meet at Mt. Pindos Restaurant at the corner of Archer & Pulaski. At about 1:00 pm and leave in Parade-like fashion to deliver toys and have a field day with the kids at St. Joseph’s Center. The children enjoy not only looking at bikes but can’t wait for the rides many of them receive that afternoon. The children will also being giving awards for how a motorcycle should be judged. The coolest, baddest, and loudest bikes are among some of the classes. If interested in attending this event leave a message of the Toys for Tots Hot line: 773-866-TOYS

The Parade Organization is planning another Monetary Distribution Night. It is being planned  for Friday, September 24. Since 1998 we have been very successful in aiding organizations financially via donations from our product and collectible sales. We intend to distribute about $40,000 in real cash to various organizations. Some of the organizations selected are: Misericordia Homes, Sertoma, Ride for Kids, Lydia Home, Camp USA, Illinois Burn Camp, St. Joseph’s Carondelet, Operation Blessing, Valentine’s Boys Club, Lincoln Academy,
Children Habilitation South and other children’s organizations.  We also will be assisting some Boy Scouts troops, the Young Marines and families that have been stricken financially. Despite the loss of the successful Hot Wheels program we still are able to make monetary donations.

Unfortunately, disrespectful Mattel would not re-negotiate their new higher minimums to continue the program. It went from 10,000 to 25,000 units minimum, via an E-mail notification. Seems a little piggish (greedy) to almost triple the original program. Phone calls and letters were unanswered. As many of you know the TFT Scorchin’ Scooter became a very desirable collectible and successfully contributed to over $500,000 to assist those in need. Unfortunately, this type of generosity was insignificant to Mattel’s management. As attested by their E-mailing to us the new requirements after the 90-day lead-time to manufacture a Hot Wheel was already past. The 42,000 motorcycles participating in our Parade have tremendous toy purchasing power. So we are changing our requirements also, by looking at other brands for future Parade purchases. Barbie and Ken have not only changed in appearance, their house (Corporate Headquarters) seems to have lost what communication and benevolent means in working with us. Keep that in mind when buying toys for this years Parade. Maybe one year of not buying their brands will contribute to a murky profit outlook for a couple of quarters. As their not supplying us has caused us to lose about a $70,000 in monetary distribution from previous years programs. So indirectly we can assist others …….especially other toy manufactures if we change our toy purchasing recommendations.

So as you can see, the Parade Organization is involved in many motorcycle activities until Parade time. So make sure you keep your motors running by helping some who are less fortunate. At least until the annual Toys for Tots Kick Off Party planned for Saturday, September 18, 2004. It will be at the Stempien VFW Post, located at 4235 West 47^th Street in Chicago. It is a fun filled day with food, music, tons of door prizes and fantastic motorcycle tire knocking. If you want to become a member and meet bikers with big hearts this is the day, September 18, 2004. It only cost $10 to attend the party and can be used toward your membership fee. It also enables you to become a member of this fine benevolent organization.