A committee of six friends, co-chaired by Kathy Hand and Lisa Pitzer, has been working for weeks on plans for a fundraising event and hoping the community will turn out to help a man who, unquestionably has given a great deal of his time, talent and knowledge to Kewanee.
Kewanee City Councilman Steve Faber continues to improve after receiving a double lung transplant at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on July 15. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at a facility across the street from the hospital to build back his strength after months of hospitalization and the surgery, and to make sure his body is accepting his new lungs. He reportedly walked 14 steps in recent days.
In a few weeks he will be released from the rehab facility and move three blocks away to a 54th-floor condo in downtown Chicago, which caters to patients slowly recovering from organ transplants. Up until then, most of Faber’s medical costs have been covered by Medicare and insurance but the cost of the condo, where he will stay until he hopefully comes home in early November, and all related living expenses, are on him.
A group of his friends and family from Kewanee, who had to undergo special training, have volunteered to take turns traveling to Chicago to work one-week shifts living with Faber until can come home to assist with his living and medical needs. Faber’s food and other living expenses incurred while living in the condo will also come out of his pocket.
That’s where the Steve Faber Double Lung Transplant Fundraiser, to be held Saturday, Sept. 9 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Flemish-American Club, 313 N. Burr Blvd., comes in.
Mark Eilers will cater the food serving a maid-rite sandwich and hot dogs for the kids, potato salad, baked beans and mixed fruit at $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6 to 10, and free for 5 and under. Desserts will be catered by Cindy Mink-Wall. Music is being provided by Kewanee DJ Jeff McDonald.
There will be a silent auction of gift cards, gift baskets and other items including a pearl necklace donated by Walter’s Jewelers, and an auction of donated pies, including one from the Special Kneads Bakery in Galva. An owl carved by Tim Bryner will also be auctioned off. There will be a gun raffle for a chance to win one of two Hellcat Pro handguns. Tickets for the raffle are $20 each and will be available at the fundraiser. There will also be a 50-50 drawing.
A number of fundraisers have been held, are currently underway, or planned in the near future including a bake sale that was held Aug. 19 at Save-a-Lot and a “Fuel for Our Friend” raffle currently being conducted by “Friends of Steve Faber” with only 250 tickets being sold for $20 each. Three winners will receive $500, $300, and $200 fuel cards, respectively, good anywhere.
The drawing will be held Sept. 25 at a Kewanee City Council meeting. For tickets, contact Dianne Packee or Deirdre Scott. At last report, only about 60 tickets were left. If all the tickets are sold, $5,000 will be raised for Faber’s expenses.
The fundraising committee is also planning a “Dining for Dollars” Steve Faber Fundraiser Sept. 19 at the Kewanee Pizza Hut. Certificates are available from Kathy Hand (309) 525) 1813) or Lisa Pitzer (309 (525-0261) which must be presented, along with a carryout or dine-in order on Sept. 19. A percentage of each total net purchase will be donated back to the Steve Faber Fund. If Pizza Hut receives up to 25 certificates that day they will donate 10%, 15% for 26 to 50 certificates presented, and 20% for over 51 certificates presented with a purchase that day.
A fundraiser is also planned for Oct. 15 at LaGondola Spaghetti House, and other fundraisers are in the planning stages for the weeks ahead. A GoFundMe page has also been established which has thus far raised a little over $6,000, and an account set up to accept donations at Community State Bank.
If you would like to send Steve a card or letter, his current address is:
Steve Faber
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Room 2017
355 East Erie Street
Chicago, Ill., 60611
