Waldo Diaz Jr. said he felt grateful at Unity in Community Foundation’s annual fundraiser on Sept. 9.
His father, Waldo Diaz Sr., has been on dialysis for 10 years and will need a kidney transplant. Part of the proceeds of the fundraiser will benefit the family while Diaz Sr. is recovering.
“It means a lot that people would come out and donate their money,” Diaz Jr. said.
Unity in Community Foundation held its annual fundraiser and food drive at Underpass Restaurant & Lounge in Franklin Park. It is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
According to its website, the organization serves residents in Elmwood Park, Franklin Park, Northlake, River Grove, Rosemont, Schiller Park and unincorporated Leyden Township. The fundraiser’s aim is to fill local food pantries and “help an individual or family with a significant need.”
Besides helping Waldo Diaz Sr., the event also raised money for CommUNITY Helping Hands and the Veterans Assistance Program, as well as scholarships for East and West Leyden and Elmwood Park high schools, according to president Tom Brimie.
The fundraiser had several raffles, with prizes including Blackhawks tickets, an autographed jersey and helmets. Brimie said the club typically raises around $20,000, and splits the profits to each program.
“Every year, we try to help somebody different,” Brimie said.
Diaz Jr., who is a senior at East Leyden High School, said he became involved with Unity in Community as a member of the Key Club. After doing volunteer work with Unity in Community, he became an active member.
“I just kept coming back to meetings,” he said.
Brimie said one day Diaz Jr. mentioned his father’s pending surgery.
“Waldo is a great kid,” Brimie said. “We met with his parents, and this whole event kicked off with him.”
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Diaz Sr. said that he did not have health problems until he began feeling tightness in his legs. After the pain got so bad that he could hardly walk, he went to a hospital.
“They kept me there for a month and a half,” he said. “They told me there that I had kidney problems and they would eventually shut down.”
Diaz Sr. said he’s going to need a kidney transplant. While he’s recovering from the transplant, he won’t be able to work.
“This will help my family with our expenses,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting this at all. I am grateful.”
Sarah and Patti Smerz of Franklin Park are members of Unity in Community. They were in attendance to support the scholarships that will benefit students from both East and West Leyden.
Patti Smerz said one of the scholarships is in honor of her late husband.
“It’s nice to see [legacies remembered] within the scholarships,” she said. “It’s nice being around loved ones and feeling like you’re a part of something [bigger].”
To donate, visit theunityincommunity.org.
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.