Latest news with #RoadtoIndependence
Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
BEDS Plus fundraiser puts spotlight on survivors of domestic violence
Five years ago, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Erin Molek asked her friend Mike McNamara to help her raise money for women who had experienced domestic violence. In her work at BEDS Plus, the La Grange non-profit addressing homelessness in the southwest suburbs, she had noticed a surge in battered women needing assistance. McNamara, a mortgage banker with OriginPoint, said Molek requested help raising money. 'She said we're paying for hotels and for people to find safety,' he recalled. 'So I did.' But it was tricky trying to organize events amid the pandemic, he said, as sheltering in place became the rule of the day. But BEDS Plus supporters found a way. 'We got together and raised money,' McNamara said. 'It's great.' So began the tradition of the BEDS Plus yearly fundraiser specifically for battered women. This year's event, titled the Road to Independence, was at Imperial Oak Brewing in Brookfield, directly across the street from the BEDS Plus facility in La Grange. About 150 people paid $30 each for tickets, which included an Imperial Oak Celebration Ale, live music, door prizes, a split the pot raffle and live auctions. There was also a Harley Davidson photo booth and access to Monk's Food Truck. 'It's a personal thing for me,' McNamara said, explaining that a family member had been in a long-term abusive relationship. 'She has been away from her abuser for 20 years, and she was with him for 19. She's doing much better, and she is here for the first time.' McNamara stressed abusive relationships are more common than many think. 'There are what I call the invisible women in every neighborhood, and you don't know it,' he said. 'They don't want you to know, that's why they're invisible. They're struggling with a level of domestic violence you probably don't know about. Donating to programs like BEDS Plus helps them get on their feet because they have the programs that will give them counseling and job assistance and, of course, safe housing, and the transportation to get to a job.' McNamara noted that having transportation was the main thing that allowed his sister to gain her independence and singled out Illinois Harley Davidson of Countryside for special thanks for their yearly support. 'We're just excited about the neighborhood feel and that everyone in the neighborhood is behind us,' said Molek, development manager at BEDS Plus. 'How our community comes out to support women who were victims is special.' Other BEDS Plus staff praised the turnout and support. 'This is always an amazing event and we're so appreciative of Mike and what he does for us,' said Terri Rivera, chief advancement officer. 'To bring awareness of the violence programs and assistance, and we appreciate the community coming out to support it.' Miriam Martinez, manager of families in transition, talked about her experiences with the organization. 'So I started working with BEDS Plus as a volunteer,' she said. 'And I was really passionate about working with the homeless population. I'd never had that experience before, so I was really happy to be involved.' Martinez talked about serving various functions at the organization before becoming involved with the victims of crime. 'A lot of the victims of crime that we were encountering were survivors of domestic violence and survivors of sexual assault.'
Fox News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump White House releases video series leading up to America's 250th birthday: 'Road to Independence'
FIRST ON FOX: The White House is launching a new "Road to Independence" video lecture series leading up to America's 250th birthday, and the Trump administration has planned a year of festivities to commemorate it. The series, launched the same day as the first engagement of the Revolutionary War in 1775, will commemorate important moments in American history ahead of the Trump administration's commencement of a full year of festivities that will launch on Memorial Day in honor of America's 250th anniversary. The videos are being produced in a partnership between the Department of Education and Hillsdale College, whose president appeared in an introductory video launching the series. "President Trump wishes to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence next year with an open heart," Hillsdale President Larry P. Arnn said in his introductory video. "One of the things we must do to commemorate anything — commemorate just means to remember together — first we have to know the thing. We can't remember it very well if we don't know it very well. So, part of the purpose of this series of lectures is to remember." The "Road to Independence" video series will culminate with the start of the Trump administration's year-long festivities honoring America's 250th birthday. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a White House task force to lead the planning and execution of this "extraordinary celebration." The White House plans to engage with the entire federal government, state and local governments, the private sector, nonprofits and educational institutions. Arnn's introductory message, launching the video series on Saturday, was also paired with the video series' first episode commemorating the Battle of Lexington and Concord. Additional episodes, which will be shared on the White House website, will be released regularly to commemorate significant events related to America's founding. The Battle of Lexington and Concord, fought on April 19, 1775, was the first military engagement leading to America's independence from Great Britain and the eventual signing of the Declaration of Independence. The 10-minute video shares the story of this pivotal moment in history from the perspective of Hillsdale College history professor Wilfred M. McClay In addition to the two videos in the series, the White House is also commemorating the start of America's fight for independence this weekend with a reading of the poem "Paul Revere's Ride" by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, which will be posted across social media. The poem commemorates the midnight ride of Paul Revere on April 18, 1775, when he rode his horse through the night to warn Massachusetts colonists of advancing British troops. "President Trump signed an executive order to create the America 250 task force because he feels strongly about honoring our nation's heritage ahead of this monumental anniversary," Leavitt told Fox News Digital. "The 'Road to Independence' video series will bring the incredible story of our country to the public as we prepare to celebrate America together in July 2026." During President Trump's first term, he held a unique "Salute To America" event on the Fourth of July in 2019, which was different from typical Independence Day celebrations put on by past presidents. The event included a prominent display of military hardware with tanks parked near the National Mall and military flyovers by an array of aircraft. It also included an address on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial from the president and the typical fireworks display.
