Friends of the O'Grady and Visak Families and St. Germaine Parish presented . . A Benefit for Jennifer O'Grady
Friends of the O'Grady and Visak Families and St. Germaine Parish presented . .
How much money did we raise?
The preliminary count is about $75,000 total. We are not sure how many people were there, but we believe we sold over 600 tickets.
Thanks again everyone, for everything!!
What happened?
For the first time, Henry O'Grady was welcoming a year as a married man. The newlywed from Chicago's Morgan Park community celebrated downtown Saturday, Feb. 26, with his bride and a group of friends. On their trip home, their car was struck by an alleged drunken driver on the Dan Ryan Expressway. O'Grady was thrown from the vehicle and died less than an hour later. He was 31.
The impact from the crash sent his wife, Jennifer, flying into the air.
Emergency workers found her on the third rail of the Chicago Transit Authority Red Line tracks, officials said.
Read the NEW July 21 Daily Southtown article.
Benefit details:
St. Germaine Parish and the Friends of the O'Grady and Visak families will host a benefit for Jennifer O'Grady and her son, Frank. The benefit will be held on July 23, 2005 at 115 Bourbon Street from 2-7pm. Kids are welcome! Visit Metromix.com's listing.
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How do I get Tickets? Advance Tickets for the fund raiser can be purchased for $30 each, by calling Danielle Graber at 773-238-2549, or by e-mailing Sue Vogel. Tickets will also be available at the door. (Grammar school kids and under are welcome for a $10 each donation at the door.)
Ticket price includes: |
| How is Jenny doing? Jenny is making a lot of progress. In April: they changed her leg cast to a walking cast. This helped her navigate stairs. (She was living with her sister because she couldn't navigate stairs safely by herself and her bathroom is on the 2nd floor at her own house.) She also had her jaw unwired and began enjoying pizza and other real foods again. The pelvic fracture and the rib fractures were healing... In May: Jenny moved back home and started getting around a little bit, but she was still in some pain. Since late June: she is able to walk and the ankle has good motion. Her fractured ribs are not healing as quickly as she had hoped. It turns out there was a displaced fracture which takes a lot longer to heal. Her fractured pelvic bone is healing, but it too is a slow process. She has been receiving a lot of support and visits from family and friends and wants to say thank you very much for the thoughts and prayers. Her friends and family have also been by to help out with projects around the house. She hopes to be cleared for work by the end of August. She might have to prove that she can lift patients before they take her back at her nursing job. Working will help her to keep busy and not dwell on the loss of Henry. Send cards to Jenny O'Grady care of Debbie Wachholz, 15725 Chapel Hill Rd., Orland Park, IL 60462. |
Donations and Corporate Gifts
Jenny recently moved back home and is getting around a little bit. (Until mid May, Jennifer was recovering at her sister's, but she is still unable to work.) Henry and Jennifer own a house in the Morgan Park area, and the medical expenses and house payments are considerable. Spread the Word! Donations, Sponsors, and Corporate Gifts greatly welcome! Donation checks can be made out to "the St. Germaine/O'Grady/Visak Benefit" and mailed to Judy Alberts at 7802 Joliet Dr. South, Tinley Park, IL 60477.
For more information about corporate gifts, call John Holmes at 708-785-6090 or e-mail Sue Vogel.
Attached is the tragic story:
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Newlywed killed in Dan Ryan nightmare
Drunken driver allegedly hit car, causing it to veer into sign; man, wife both thrown from vehicle
Monday, February 28, 2005
By Courtney Greve
Staff writer, Daily Southtown
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This birthday was special.
For the first time, Henry O'Grady was welcoming a year as a married man. The newlywed from Chicago's Morgan Park community celebrated downtown Saturday with his bride and a group of friends.
On their trip home, their car was struck by an alleged drunken driver on the Dan Ryan Expressway.
O'Grady was thrown from the vehicle and died less than an hour later. He was 31.
The impact from the crash sent his wife, Jennifer, flying into the air.
Emergency workers found her on the third rail of the Chicago Transit Authority Red Line tracks, officials said.
Jennifer O'Grady, a nurse, was in critical condition at Stroger Hospital in Chicago on Sunday, officials said.
"We just started getting to know them," said neighbor Mary Jedry. "They were a very nice couple, working on their house and just starting out. I can't believe this happened."
At 2:08 a.m., the O'Gradys were riding in the back seat of a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta traveling south in the Dan Ryan's express lanes, Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Wayne Winterberg said.
The driver of the Jetta told police she hit a directional arrow board after the Jetta was struck by another vehicle, Winterberg said.
The Jetta hit the center wall and bounced back into the far left lane where it was struck a second time by different vehicle, police said.
Floyd Vergo, a 22-year-old Country Club Hills man, "couldn't stop to avoid" hitting the Jetta with his Dodge Intrepid, Winterberg said.
Vergo struck the arrow board and then hit the Jetta, pushing it into the concrete wall, police said.
Henry, Jennifer, the Jetta driver and a front-seat passenger were ejected from the vehicle. None of them were wearing seat belts, police said.
The Jetta driver and the front-seat passenger remained hospitalized Sunday in serious condition, officials said.
Vergo was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Additional charges, including reckless homicide, are pending, Winterberg said.
At the O'Grady's house on South Fairfield Avenue, a green shamrock hangs on the front door.
Neighbors said Henry and Jennifer were married in November at St. Germaine Catholic Church in Oak Lawn.
Jennifer has a son Frank, who is in the seventh grade, neighbors said.
Laura Fasan lives next door to the O'Grady's. She was shocked to hear of the accident.
"(Henry) was a nice, quiet guy," she said. "Real nice, real friendly."
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The other passengers in the car were Julie Dominick and Tom Donnelly.
Also visit The Eddie Hrebic Family Benefit