Beneath black leather beat some of the most philanthropic hearts.
Throughout the southwest suburbs, motorcycle riders are quietly (or more correctly, without publicity) raising funds for causes such as the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and other charities. Besides major nonprofit organizations, individual victims of disease and accidents as well as local schools, hospitals and nursing homes benefit from the benevolence of bikers.
Mike Coleman, 42, of Burbank is president of the south suburban chapter of ABATE (A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education), which he explains is “a political organization, not a club.” ABATE works for motorcyclists’ rights and against what its members see as unjust laws, such as those requiring helmets (Illinois has no such law). ABATE membership is open to anyone, including nonriders.
On the charitable side, south suburban ABATE members are active in Toys for Tots drives as well as in raising funds and supplies for the Illinois Veterans Home at Manteno, a favorite of many local motorcycle groups. The ABATE chapter began visiting and contributing to the home after one of the group’s officers placed his father-in-law there, Coleman says.
Says Brenda LaBon, director of volunteers for the home, “I wish more people in the community could meet these bikers. They’re a very caring group. I’ve never met a bad one in the bunch. They share a lot of time and friendship with our veterans.”
The home is a favorite cause of Harley Owners Group chapters, run out of Harley-Davidson dealerships. Says ABATE member Marty Ward, 41, of Tinley Park, “When bikers see a H.O.G. chapter (involved in a charity event) they know it’s a worthy cause.” Anyone can join in H.O.G. fundraisers; even those who favor Hondas, Kawasakis or Suzukis are welcome to participate.
Ward has served on the board of Park Lawn, an Oak Lawn school for the developmentally disabled, for 14 years, currently as vice president. He will coordinate next year’s Big Bikes, Big Hearts benefit motorcycle poker run, an event in which riders follow a designated route, drawing playing cards at different stops with the hope of having the highest poker hand at the end of the route). The May run raised $3,000 for the school.
Doris Marks, director of development for Park Lawn, says they named the run Big Bikes, Big Hearts because the participants are so kind and generous.
“They’re mentioning Park Lawn in their various newsletters to raise funds for us,” she says. “We’re thrilled.”
Joe Helsel, 54, of Steger is the Crete H.O.G. director. “Crete keeps it local,” he says of his group’s good deeds. “We’re kind of small, and there are people right here who need help.”
In addition to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the group gives to the Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center, headquartered in Matteson, and the Glenwood School for Boys.
“The Crete H.O.G. chapter (members) have been financial contributors to Aunt Martha’s since 1991,” says Tekla Syers, development officer for Aunt Martha’s. “Their support has been generous and consistent over the years, giving anywhere from $500 to more than $1,000. We feel fortunate to have a partner like the Crete-area H.O.G. group. Sometimes people might be deceived by appearances — you never know where your partners are among your neighbors until you ask. It’s nice to know that your neighbors are there, even on Harleys.”
Joe LaBarge, 55, of Joliet is director of his hometown’s H.O.G. “We’re family oriented; everybody comes to our meetings,” he says. “Bring your wife and your kids. We’re low-key.”
Like many motorcycle riders, he laments his pastime’s negative image: “It’s not what people generally think — the outlaw type — we’re not that. You have to be a working person to afford a Harley today. They’re very expensive, $8,000 to $20,000.”
The Joliet H.O.G. holds an annual food drive for Morningstar Mission, collecting nonperishables and cash for the Joliet homeless shelter. They bring food, diapers and cribs to the Guardian Angel Home, a Joliet shelter for battered women, and supply toiletries and host an annual ice cream social at the veterans home in Manteno, supplying toiletries (toothbrushes and razors are always needed), cakes and candy. And each December, the group rings bells for the Salvation Army.
Ray Bartkowiak, 47, chapter director for the Oak Lawn H.O.G., says his group hosts an annual Halloween party, with proceeds from admission and raffle tickets earmarked for a needy family. “Most of us are your next-door neighbor or we live down the street from you,” he says.
According to Bartkowiak, a Tinley Park resident, there are 52 H.O.G. chapters in Illinois with about 19,000 members, more than 1,000 of them in the southwest suburban chapters.
Jim Wolf, president and founder of Christian Eagles, the south suburban chapter of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, says his group works for Toys for Tots, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and other charities. According to Wolf, 56, of Richton Park, the association is worldwide, with 524 chapters and 66,000 members in the U.S.
The Blue Knights, motorcyclists who work in law enforcement, visit the veterans home in Manteno each May for the Blessing of the Bikes, a ceremony in which a member of the clergy prays for the bikers to have a safe year of riding. They make contributions to the home and bring personal care items and snacks, then hold a parade around the home to make sure the vets who can’t come downstairs can see them too.
The Ridgewood Cycle Association also works for the veterans home. Ridgewood’s president, Pat McHenry of Frankfort, says many club members are veterans or have relatives who are vets.
Caroline Huerta, a fortysomething Oak Lawn resident, has organized Ridin’ U.G.L.Y. (Understanding, Generous, Lovable You), an event that for 12 years has raised funds for multiple sclerosis research.
“Her event in early April raised more than $28,000 on behalf of national MS research, local chapter programs and services in northern and central Illinois,” says Mark Paulson, manager of communications and public relations for the Chicago-Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “We’re delighted that we have her support and the support of her friends in this effort to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.”
According to Huerta, “Ridin’ U.G.L.Y. is always the first Saturday in April. Last year we raised $17,000-plus. This year we got $26,000-plus just from the run (they also have tag days and other fundraising), and we did $5,500 in employer matching programs: Peoples Gas, Miller Brewing Co. It’s wonderful that employers do that for their employees throughout the nation. There’s great research coming out of Houston (at the Baylor School of Medicine). We are so close to a cure for MS.”
Curt Mercadante, program coordinator for MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Chicagoland, says, “I’ve found that Harley riders have big hearts. They give their time, a lot of time, and they really care about the cause. They come up to our summer camp in Lake Villa and spend time with the kids. They give up their nights and weekends to put on really great events, and in the process they get to know the people we serve.”
Mercadante adds that during the last 20 years, Harley-Davidson, its dealers and H.O.G. members have raised more than $25 million for MDA. On Aug. 29, the Oak Lawn H.O.G. sponsored the 10th Chicagoland Cure Cruise and Picnic for MDA.
“It was the biggest event in our 10-year history,” Mercadante says. “We had close to 2,000 people. A pledge ride left in the morning from Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson to Starved Rock in Ottawa, and finished at Hawthorne Racecourse.
“There were vendors, a silent auction, raffles, food, and Oak Lawn Harley provided a 1999 Sportster to raffle. At 5 p.m. entertainment began, three different bands. The headliner was Survivor, a rock ‘n’ roll band. There are no final figures yet (on number of people or money raised). We’re hoping it nears the $40,000 mark. It at least doubled, possibly tripled, last year’s attendance of 750 people and $20,000.”
H.O.G. presented a check with the proceeds, $30,000, during the Jerry Lewis telethon last weekend.
U.S. Marine Gunnery Sgt. Fidel Garcia is coordinator of Toys for Tots for the Chicago area. This will be the event’s 21st year when it begins again on the first Sunday in December. According to Garcia, it is the largest single toy drive in the country.
“Most toys are collected in a six-hour window. Last year (the bikers) brought in 17,000 toys,” he explains. “They have meetings throughout the year. They do all the work themselves, and do an excellent job of supporting the Marine Corps (in the event).
“They’re constantly looking for new ways to raise more toys for the children. Their hearts are so big; of my committee, the motorcyclists are the ones who put in the most work.”
JOINING THE WILD ONES
Here are some of the motorcycle organizations with chapters in the southwest suburbs. All are involved in charitable work, though that may not be their primary mission.
Note: Harley Owners Group directors may be contacted through their sponsoring dealers, listed below. In order to join a H.O.G. chapter, you must be a member of H.O.G. National.
For information about H.O.G. membership and future events, call 1-800-CLUBHOG. For information on some local groups, call:
Conrad’s Harley-Davidson, Joliet; 815-725-2000
Harley-Davidson of Crete; 708-672-6601
Shreffler’s Land of Lincoln Harley-Davidson, Inc., Manteno; 815-468-8673
Oak Lawn Harley-Davidson; 708-423-9005
Homewood Harley-Davidson; 708-798-1413
Dante’s Harley Davidson, Princeton; 815-875-8350
Garrett’s Harley-Davidson/Kawasaki, Streator; 815-672-7152
South Suburban ABATE Chapter, Mike Coleman, president; 708-422-1165
Blue Knights Illinois Chapter 16 (law enforcement officers), Dick Bielfeldt, president; 708-798-6713
Ridgewood Cycle Association, Pat McHenry, president; 815-469-2340
Christian Motorcyclists Association, Christian Eagles Chapter (south suburban), Jim Wolf, president; 708-403-1905
