From Memorial Day through the Fourth of July, Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery raised $115,424 for the Folds of Honor Foundation through the sale of paper dog tags at all Tilted Kilt locations nationwide.
The Folds of Honor Foundation provides educational scholarships to family members and dependents of fallen or injured service members. Additionally, Tilted Kilt’s partner for the fundraiser, Anheuser-Busch, has agreed to donate an additional $10,000 to make the total donation over $125,424.
A check presentation by Tilted Kilt president Ron Lynch, Major Ed Pulido, and a representative from the Schaumburg Tilted Kilt pub will take place Wednesday, Sept. 3.
The official check presentation will be held at 9 a.m. at the Tilted Kilt pub located at 1140 East Higgins Rd. in Schaumburg, Illinois, followed by a guest appreciation event beginning at 5 p.m. Tilted Kilt of Schaumburg will be providing a free appetizer buffet from 5-7 p.m. along with bagpipers to thank the guests for the support they showed by helping the restaurant raise $20,320.
Additionally, Melissa Denfrund, whose family is one of the recipients of a Folds of Honor scholarship in the greater Chicago area, will be present at the event. Jayden Denfrund, who is in the third grade, attends a private school in Wadsworth, Illinois, with the help of the Folds of Honor Children’s Fund Scholarship. Jayden’s father and Melissa’s husband, United State Army Sergeant Jason Denfrund, was killed by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2006 on Christmas Day.
The fourth annual “Here’s to Heroes” fundraiser has allowed Tilted Kilt to salute the sacrifices of the more than one million men and women choosing to serve our country in the United States Armed Forces. Customers were given an opportunity to purchase a $1 or $5 paper dog tag to be personally customized and displayed on the pub walls.
“Each year the Here’s to Heroes Fundraiser continues to grow and we’re happy to continue to exceed our goals and give back to our nation’s heroes who have sacrificed so much,” Lynch says. “We received more support and participation in this year’s program from our franchisees and customers than ever before. Without them, this year’s fundraising success would not have been possible.”
Last year, Tilted Kilt independently raised more than $65,000. This year, Tilted Kilt increased the donation by $50,000 with the biggest contributions coming from the Schaumburg, Illinois, and Chino, California, pubs, which raised a combined total of over $33,000.
“As a staunch advocate for veterans with disabilities, it has been an honor to partner with Tilted Kilt over the years to raise money and awareness for The Folds of Honor Foundation,” says Major Ed, the senior vice president of the Folds of Honor Foundation, Founder of Warriors for Freedom Foundation and founder and president of The Warrior Nation. “Families are hit hard with both an emotional and financial burden when there is a fallen or injured service member and it’s our job to help them ease the pain. With the amount of money raised, we will truly be able to make a difference in the lives of military families nationwide.”
