rocknrobn26 Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 A run-of-the-mill raffle for Bears playoff tickets at the Bluestone Bar and Grill in New Lenox took a bizarre and patriotic turn this week -- none of the winners would accept the seats. Folks kept returning the tickets to the charity that offered them up -- the Disabled Patriot Fund -- until more than $5,500 was collected Wednesday night. Ultimately, the two tickets were given to an Iraq war veteran -- U.S. Marine Corps sniper Mike Mendoza of Tinley Park, who was injured by a grenade in August. This is how he got the tickets: Brian Dempsey of Palos Heights won the initial raffle on a $5 chance. He told bar owner Allan Byrne to auction off the seats and give the proceeds to the Disabled Patriot Fund, which raises cash for veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I thought this was a good opportunity to raise more money for the fund," Dempsey said. "I'll watch the game at home." Bears fan Rose White of New Lenox was the highest bidder. She wrote a check for $1,500, but wouldn't take the tickets either. Then, Byrne sweetened the prize by throwing in a limousine ride to the game and put the tickets on the block again. After a healthy round of bidding, White made another winning offer, wrote a second $1,500 check and still wouldn't accept the tickets. "I told them to give the tickets to a couple of veterans . . . I thought it was the right thing to do," she said. On Thursday, the fund turned the tickets over to Mendoza, a lifelong Bears fan returning from rehabilitation in North Carolina this weekend. "Wow. This kind of generosity is amazing," Mendoza said. "It just shows what real Americans will do for guys like me." mkonkol@suntimes.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Hats off to those people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabuffbills Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Hats off to those people. I'll second that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Roller Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Great story. Thanks RR for a post that brought a tear. You are for sure the anti-JJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffraff Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Pretty cool gestures towards vets. Pretty bad that no one wants to see the Bears play though. Very nice tax write offs too. Basically paid by the government not to watch the Bears play. Winners all around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted January 20, 2007 Author Share Posted January 20, 2007 Pretty cool gestures towards vets. Pretty bad that no one wants to see the Bears play though. Very nice tax write offs too. Basically paid by the government not to watch the Bears play. Winners all around. I really can't believe you said that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isleseeya Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Great gesture by those folks ...very impressive Tax write off comments in this thread ...not impressive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabuffbills Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Pretty cool gestures towards vets. Pretty bad that no one wants to see the Bears play though. Very nice tax write offs too. Basically paid by the government not to watch the Bears play. Winners all around. you're an idiot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chargerz Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 (edited) I loved this story!! Edited January 20, 2007 by Chargerz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 I hope Mr. Mendoza enjoys the game. Very nice gesture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziachild007 Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Awesome to all involved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackshi17 Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunther Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outshined Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Wow - Thats what America is all about!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Beatings Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Awesome story! Just goes to show you, even Bears fans will pay good money to not have to go watch Rex Grossman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gdawg Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Great story. Just goes to show how very many kind and decent people there are in this country!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.