HICKS, SCHLENKER NAMED VETERANS OF THE YEAR
Photo by Alan Olson
Tom Hicks, left, and Russ Schlenker are honored as Veterans of the Year at the Helping Heroes “Night to Remember” fundraiser, which was held Friday night at River City Restaurants & Banquets in downtown Wheeling. By 6 p.m. Friday, Helping Heroes co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Jeremy Harrison said the event had drawn a crowd of more than 150 people, already more attendees than the previous year. Dozens lined up to participate in a spin-to-win game, while others participated in raffles and auctions. The event also featured music and a catered dinner. Harrison hoped to raise $25,000 by the end of the night — $4,000 more than the previous year.
Helping Heroes is a nonprofit organization started in October 2013 that helps struggling veterans find sustainable housing and learn budgeting techniques to keep themselves financially stable. Harrison co-founded the organization with his wife, Susan, after an encounter with an injured Iraq War veteran who had lost his job, his disability income and his family due to an inability to budget his finances.