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Culver’s to help family of Cmdr. Bauer
Six locations to donate some of today’s proceeds
By Steve Metsch
The Culver’s restaurant in Lyons – along with five others owned by Guy Hollis – figure to be very busy Thursday evening.
That’s because from 4 to 8 p.m., 15 percent of sales will be donated to the family of Paul Bauer, the off-duty Chicago Police Commander who was shot to death Feb. 13 by an assailant in downtown Chicago.
Hollis decided on the donation as a way to help the widow and daughter of the slain Chicago police commander, along with show support for police.
Hollis owns six Culver’s. Each will participate in “Back The Badge Night.”
They are located at: 8211 W. Ogden Ave., Lyons; 6943 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn; 9515 S. Kedzie Ave., Evergreen Park; 9229 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview; 10745 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn; and 4939 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago.
Amanda Smith, manager of the Lyons Culver’s, said, “when we heard of what happened, it wasn’t matter of if we were going to get involved. It was a matter of how.”
“We wanted to participate in the best way we know how,” Smith said.
She expects a huge turnout at each location, and has already heard from police in Lyons and Riverside who plan to attend.
She noted that the Lyons and Evergreen Park Culver’s are both very close to Chicago, and she expects a big turnout from Chicago police who live nearby.
“We knew there’d be support for it, but, honestly, we’re shocked by how much support we’ve received. (There has been) so much positive feedback from the community about it,” Smith said.
“So many police departments have called us and asked us how they can help. They want to volunteer. They want to be here for the event,” Smith said.
Her husband, Frank, works as a correctional officer at the Cook County Jail, “so the whole situation pulled on my heartstrings.”
“I thought of what his wife is going through. I’d want somebody to help me, too. It’s bringing the community together,” Smith said.
On Monday, Smith said Lyons police have told her “it’s going to be much busier than you expect.”
“Nobody is allowed to have the day off. It is all hands on deck. It’s a serious reason, but we also want it to be fun for the patrons, too. We’ll have a deejay here. You’re having fun and supporting a good cause,” Smith said.
She declined to estimate how money much may be raised.
She recalled a fundraiser held a few years ago at the Culver’s in Evergreen Park that raised $2,200 in four hours for Emily Beazley, a Mount Greenwood girl ill with cancer. “But that was only one location, not six,” Smith said.
-Desplaines Valley News
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