Vets Summer Fest August 10, 2013
Our council has been a long time supporter of the Operation Chillout organization. Some of our brothers serve as key participants. This year Operation Chillout is expanding to a larger outdoor fundraiser and approached our council for assistance with their event because of our experience and commitment to supporting veterans. As this is not a council event, after careful consideration, LV KofC Council 10419 has endorsed this event and is soliciting help from our membership.
Operation Chillout will hold the 3rd Annual Vets Summer Fest 2013 Fundraiser at Vasa Park in Hackettstown, New Jersey on Saturday, August 10 from 11 am to 8 pm. This special event helps fund Operation Chillout’s Homeless veteran’s Outreach Program reaching out to homeless veterans throughout New Jersey. This event is being sponsored and managed by Operation Chillout.
If interested in supporting in the planning of this event or lending a helping hand the day of the event please reach out to Brothers Tony DeStafano, Bobby Scanga and Walt Lublaneck.
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PRESS RELEASE
VETS SUMMER FEST 2013
SAT, AUG 10 VASA PARK, HACKETTSOWN, NJ
Homeless Veteran’s Outreach Program Presents 3rd Annual Fundraiser Music Festival
New York, NY- (March 7, 2013) Operation Chillout has announced the 3rd ANNUAL Vet’s Summer Fest 2013 Fundraiser Festival at Vasa Park in Hackettstown, New Jersey on Saturday,
August 10th from 11am to 8pm. This special event helps fund Operation Chillout’s Homeless Veteran’s Outreach Program reaching homeless veterans in New Jersey. The festival is also focused on raising awareness of the plight of thousands of homeless veterans living in New Jersey. Veteran homelessness is now the fastest growing sector of the homeless population and is escalating as our young troops return home from their Iraqi and Afghani military service tours.
“This is OCO’s 3rd annual fundraiser for our homeless veteran outreach. All donations are tax deductible and go to support OCO’s year-round outreach efforts to help our 7,500 homeless NJ vets. A special fund has been set up to acquire an all-terrain Rapid Response Vehicle to reach homeless veterans in all locations in all weather conditions. Proceeds from the event will enable OCO to provide new season-appropriate clothing, emergency temporary shelter assistance, summer supplies and survival gear, and will enable OCO to extend county-located outreach teams throughout NJ and establish OCO partner chapters to continue this critical work moving forward.” – Dcn. Ray Chimileski, Operation Chillout Executive Director
Vets Summer Fest 2013 will feature great regional bands on one main stage and tasty foods with cold beer and other beverages. This family rated event also features children’s activities, arts and crafts displays, merchandise vendors, a vintage car and motorcycle show, military displays and demonstration from area installations. Vets Summer Fest is a terrific motorcycle destination for the weekend. Event admission is $20.00 for adults and discounted admission for families with young children and active duty military personnel. Tickets at www,operationchillout.com or at the gate. No outside alcohol, food or coolers are allowed.
Tentative Line Up of Activities:
· 11:00 TROOPING OF THE COLORS: Police and Knights of Columbus
· NATIONAL ANTHEM SUNG BY: Nikki Barr
· INTRODUCTION: Tony DeStefano MAJ USA RET & Ray Chimileski, Executive Director
Bands & recording artists scheduled to perform, more bands TBA:
1) Nikki Briar – www.nikkibriar.com
2) Chelsea Carlson – www.chelseacarlsonmusic.com
3) Bob Lanza (Blues Hall of Fame inductee) Band – www.reverbnation.com/theboblanzabluesband
4) Lenny & the 45’s – www.facebook.com/LennyandThe45s
5) The Railroad- A Grand Funk Tribute
6) Zigman Bird- http://zigmanbird.com
OPERATION CHILLOUT (OCO) is an all-volunteer coalition started in Dec. 2000 to respond to the crisis of homelessness in New Jersey. OCO started as a one-time outreach to a Vietnam era US Army veteran living on the streets in Dover in December 2000. Since then, OCO continued to respond to the needs of homeless veterans, men and women, and today has an active year round outreach presence in 13 NJ counties, Eastern PA and Rockland County. Over its 13 years of operation OCO has provided free relief supplies totaling mor than one million dollars. OCO teams seek out the veterans of our Military Services, many of whom face acute and chronic illnesses of mind and body and are among the highest percentage of the homeless in the nation. OCO teams practice direct compassionate actions including the collection, dissemination and delivery of new season-appropriate clothing and basic survival supplies. OCO teams conduct emergency rapid response runs to homeless veterans and arrange for services to improve the quality of their lives leading to permanent change and independent living. OCO is a registered not for profit 501c3. All donations are tax deductible according to state and federal tax rules.
Interview inquiries with Tony DeStefano and Ray Chimileski of Operation Chillout, please call Michael Martinez at 845-201-8820
Location:
NJ Vasa Park 1 Vasa Drive, Hackettstown, NJ 07840 (off route 46 at Wolfe Road, Budd Lake) (973) 691 – 2686 www.vasaparknj.com
Operation Chillout is currently seeking sponsors to support Vets Fest 2013. For sponsorship inquiries, donations and more information, logon to www.operationchillout.org or please contact, MAJ Tony DeStefano, Homeless Veteran. Outreach Coordinator: tony@operationchillout.org