Press - Press Release
Huntington, Long Island, New York – John J. Tunney, III, famous for creating Long Island culinary institutions like Besito, Honu Kitchen & Cocktails and American Roadside Burgers, is turning his hospitality to the hundreds of disabled U.S. Veterans & their families living on and returning to Long Island NY from Iraq and Afghanistan.
“When I read Newsday, I feel like there’s a brave solider returning home every week to our community without the very basic necessities to recover and live a decent life. Now everyone on Long Island can do something about it.” Tunney said.
Veterans Rock is a one-time charitable foundation, which will aim to raise over $5 million dollars. The money will be used to retrofit homes, provide counseling, purchase prosthesis, driving apparatuses and buy food and clothing for young families who have courageously served our country, but now have found themselves unable to survive in this economy. Tunney will ask every Long Islander to look at their ten fingers and ten toes as a reminder to give five dollars in gratitude for the service of these disabled Americans.
Tunney continued, “The average salary for a soldier serving in Iraq is $17,000 a year. When they arrive home they are encouraged to apply for food stamps to cover the costs of food for their families. And many don’t even have a decent wheelchair. These men and women shouldn’t be afraid of coming home. Together we can create the largest grassroots veterans effort in the country and inspire other cities and towns to do the same.”
Commerce Bank has already committed all of their locations (now Toronto Dominion or TD Bank) to collecting the $5 donations; Long Islanders will be able to walk into any location and deposit their $5 directly into the Veterans Rock account. Additionally, Tunney will use the Veterans Rock website and text messaging to raise money. Proud participants will receive a Veterans Rock bracelet with the hope that they will ask five others to do the same and “get involved.”
After having recently received their non-profit approval from the State of New York, Tunney hopes other prestigious community leaders and individual businesses will get involved.
“These extraordinary human beings have sacrificed their lives and their livelihood to every American. As often as we complain about gas prices and Wall Street, we’d have no flags to unfurl in this great democracy if not for our local soldiers” board member and TD Bank Metro President Chris Giamo remarked. Other board members include Phil Caporusso CPA, Bob Gregory, Rob Quadrino and John Kean.
Veterans Rock will launch in January 2009 and conclude on Veterans Day, November 11, 2009. For more information please contact www.veteransrock.com or Tunney Vision 631-271-2700.
