January 2025 Newsletter

A Salute to Our Heroes Foundation

Newsletter

January 2025

A Letter of Gratitude

Dear Sponsors, Donors, and Golfers,

As we enter 2025 and the celebration of our 6th Anniversary, we cannot help but be thankful for the generous monetary donations from our donors, businesses, philanthropy groups, family, friends, golfers, and volunteers for the success that we have achieved. “A Salute To Our Heroes” goal for 2025 is to increase the amount of scholarship money awarded and other special causes in assisting our veterans. Can we count on your continued support?

A Salute To Our Heroes Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. Proceeds from our golf outing will provide needed support to the Specialist Ethan J. Martin Scholarship Fund, PTSD / TBI (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder / Traumatic Brain Injury) awareness, as well as A Salute To Our Heroes Foundation. Additionally, this event provides funding which helps support and aid our veterans and their families that are in need.

The money that the Specialist Ethan J Martin Scholarship has received from your donation has enabled us to provide needed continuing education to our young adults within the Kane County community to further their education, build self-esteem in a positive environment in creating a better future. Your support makes it possible for children of veterans to pursue their educational and vocational endeavors (at Universities, Junior Colleges, and/or Trade Schools). In 2024, A Salute To Our Heroes was able to award $11,000.00 in scholarship money.

The total amount of scholarships provided over the last five years is $36,000.00, $3,000.00 Julia the Comfort dog to aid in care for PTSD and TBI and $1,500.00 for medical supplies in providing acupuncture treatments to veterans at National University of Health Sciences / Clinic in Lombard, IL.

A Salute To Our Heroes Foundation scholarship program could not exist without the generosity of individuals like you!

We invite you to join us at our 6th Annual Golf Outing on Friday, June 6, 2025, which will once again be held at Bowes Creek Country Club in Elgin. You will have the opportunity to golf with the military men and women who have served our country, a day filled with joy and laughter and camaraderie including our patriotic flare.

Enclosed you will find a golf outing pamphlet for your convenience. You can either mail your completed pamphlet, send a donation to the address listed on the form, call us if you would like to use your credit card, and/or donate online at: asalutetoourheroes.com.

If you have any questions, please call 224-600-3318 or email us at asalutetoourheroes@gmail.com. Your generosity is much appreciated.

Thank you for your support.

Dona A. Stretch

Founder / CEO

A Salute To Our Heroes Inc. Foundation

Spc. Ethan J Martin Scholarship Board

9N850 Channel Court

Elgin, IL 60124

Not-for-profit 501(c)(3)

www.asalutetoourheroes.com

2025 Honorees

A Salute To Our Heroes” honors all veterans as well as men and women who are currently serving our country in all five branches of the US military.

Franco Martorona to sing the National Anthem

Back by popular demand, Franco Martorona to sing the National Anthem on Friday, June 6th, 2025, at Bowes Creek Country Club at “A Salute To Our Heroes” golf outing “Opening Ceremony”.

Tenor Franco Martorana was born in Geneva, Switzerland to Sicilian parents. He immigrated to the United States and settled in Chicago. His stage debut was as Camille in “The Merry Widow” for Chicago’s Lincoln Opera. Following studies with Pavarotti’s teacher, Arrigo Pola, the young tenor enrolled at University of Oklahoma. After graduating he joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago chorus. In recent seasons, Franco has appeared in Bellissima Opera’s productions of “La Traviata” and “Madama Butterfly” and as Michele in “The Saint of Bleecker Street” in Chamber Opera of Chicago’s Menotti Gala. This golden-voiced tenor has also gained a well-deserved reputation for his interpretations of Italian and Neapolitan songs.

Specialist Ethan J. Martin Scholarship Fund

2025 Requirements

A Salute To Our Heroes Foundation Scholarship Fund of Elgin, Illinois is offering a scholarship opportunity to children of veterans or individuals who have an immediate family member (mother, father, grandparent, or sibling) who is a veteran or on active military duty for the United States. Applicant(s) must reside in Kane County and be a high school senior, college student or adult entering studies for a degree or trade.

Scholarships awarded will go directly to the named accredited college/university or trade school.

To apply for the Specialist Ethan J Martin Scholarship application contact us at:

asalutetoourheroes@gmail.com

The application submission deadline is April 4, 2025, and scholarship(s) will be awarded on

May 5, 2025.

Please note that applications will be denied for review if any required documents are missing, if the application information is incomplete or if you do not live in Kane County.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 224-600-3318 or email us at: asalutetoourheroes@gmail.com

2025 A Salute To Our Heroes

6TH Annual Golf Outing Brochure

Click the link below to download and share this year's golf outing brochure:

2025 A Salute To Our Heroes Golf Outing Brochure

A Special Thank You to Our 2024 Sponsors & Donors

On behalf of A Salute To Our Heroes Foundation, we would personally like to thank all our Sponsors and Donors for their gracious donations to the Specialist Ethan J. Martin Scholarship Fund for helping Veterans and their families in 2024.

A SALUTE TO OUR HEROES THANKS OUR 2024 SPONSORS AND DONORS

Purple Heart Sponsor

Mc Grath – St. Charles

Gold Star Sponsor

HWH Environmental

Montemayor Construction

Silver Star Sponsor

Eric Nosal

James Leyden

John Castenada Law

Riverside Pizza & Pubs (4 locations)

Toppel Plumbing

Universal Wellness Source of Roscoe

Canteen Sponsor

Ascension St. Joe’s Hospital – Elgin

Lauderdale Electric

Tee Sign Sponsor

Blain’s Farm and Fleet -Elgin

Brittan’s Oil

Carey Travel Express

Dalton & Herlehy, P.C

John Staszewski – DP’s Place

Eric Stare – County Board 16

Kilpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance

Law Office of Andrew J. Sosnowski

Law Office of Douglas J. Scheflow

Majestic Distributing Company, Inc.

The Dutch Inn – West

The Graceful Ordinary

Universal Marketing

Village Squire – Dundee

Village Squire – South Elgin

Sponsor a Veteran

Debbi and Dave Peterson

Mariko Aratani and Jim Mandi Berg

Associate Imaging Specialists

SPECIALIST ETHAN J. MARTIN SCHOLARSHIP DONATIONS

Alex Mikos

American Legion Roders Post #57 – Elgin

Cathy Johnston

Country Financial

Deb Perez

Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club

Eric Nosal

Kirkpatrick, Jones & Herzog Insurance

Margie and Wayne Janus

Mark and Janet Sandell

McGrath – Nissan

Michael and Carol Kenyon

Senator Don DeWitt

Wayne and Jeanette Russell

Donors

Ace Ziegler Hardware

Alex Mendez

Atlas Chicken – Geneva

Barrel & Rye – Geneva

Bella Vie TLC

Blain’s Farm and Fleet – Elgin

Bookers

Bowes Creek Country Club -Elgin

Bluemen Gardens -Sycamore

Café Roma

Chicago Wolves

Coopers Hawk

Copper Fox – Geneva

Corando- South Elgin

Costco – St. Charles

Culinary Fox Café and Caterers

Culvers- South Elgin

Dona Stretch

Dr. Growth – South Town Animal Hospital

Elgin Insta Print

Ella’s Italian Pub

Ellen Baker & Family

Family Chiropractic

Fox Fire Restaurant, Chef KC – Geneva

Gia Mia – Geneva

Gia Mia – Naperville

Grumpy Goat – Elgin

Gudino Family

Hoppe’s Tavern

Jeans and a Cute Top – Geneva

Jersey Mike’s Subs – South Elgin

Jewel – Dundee

Jewel – Elgin

Jimmy’s Char house

John and Sue Staszewski

Johnny’s Supper Club -Elgin

Kane County Cougars

Kane County Republican Party

Karen Dowling

Karen Grewal

Karlene Muntz

Kevin Laurie

Krista McKinney

Donors

Lettuce Entertain You – Shaw’s

Livia – Geneva

Liz Rodney

Mab Batter Bakery

Maple & Hash- Pingree Grove

Marie Markel

McGrath – Nissan

McGrath – St. Charles

Mc Nally’s – St. Charles

Mockingbird – Dundee

Mr. CBD

Nancy Gentile

Nicole Carlisle

Niko’s Tavern – Elgin

Noe Janus

OM Med Spa – Elgin

Otter Creek Wine and Spirits

Paramount Theater -Aurora

Pat Crawford

Patriotic Professional Women’s Group

Paul’s Family Restaurant

Pinot’s Palette -SC

Portofino – Campton Hills

Prana Yoga Center

Premier Living Real Estate- St. Charles

Preservation Bread & Wine – Geneva

Reams Meat Market – Elburn

Rockford Ice Hogs

Schaumburg Boomers

St. Charles Florist – Campton Hills

StretchLab -Thornwood

The Burger Local – Geneva

The Dutch Inn – West

The Culinary Fox Café – Elgin

The James – Geneva

The Look Loft

The Royal Wren – Geneva

Urban Craft – Geneva

Village Squire – Dundee

Village Squire – South Elgin

VFW – West Dundee

Golf Course Donations

Bartlett Golf Course

Bonnie Dundee

Bowes Creek Country Club

Hawks View Landing – Lake Geneva

Peninsula Park – Door County, WI

Orchard Golf Course – Aurora

Pinecrest Golf Course

Randall Oaks Golf Course

RedTail Golf Course

The Highlands Golf Course

Whisper Creek Golf Course

A special thank you to:

Tenor – Franco Martorano

Ellen Baker – Photographer

Emerald Society of -Chicago Police

Julia Comfort Dog “Julia”

Kane County Chiefs of Police Association Honor Guard

True Patriots Care

Quilts of Valor

A SALUTE TO OUR HEROES FOUNDATION

Would like to “Thank” our sponsors, donors, golfers, volunteers, and VETERANS!!

WE SALUTE YOU!!

A Salute To Our Heroes Foundation | asalutetoourheroes.com