KEYPORT, NJ - On July 29, federal lawmakers defeated a bill aimed at helping sick Ground Zero workers, but that’s not stopping two area businessmen from joining forces on the 9/11 First Responders’ Fundraiser. The event, which will benefit the non-profit FealGood Foundation, will take place Thursday, August 19 from 7-9 pm at Trinity Restaurant, 84 Broad Street, Keyport.
The affair is being hosted by Vin Gopal, president of the Hazlet Business Owners Association and owner of the Monitor Newspapers, and Peter Grandich, founder of Trinity Financial Sports & Entertainment Management Co. and Grandich Publications.
“This is a non-partisan, non-political event to raise money for the brave men and women suffering devastating health problems from their heroism on September 11th, 2001,” says Peter Grandich. “Seventy percent of those who came to America’s aid at Ground Zero are now sick or have died from their 9/11 illnesses, and even though Congress has yet to pass a bill to help them, we must--as Americans--come to their aid.”
Vin Gopal echoed the sentiment. “We simply cannot let the 9/11 community take a back seat to political bickering. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is an American issue.”
Gopal is a recognized Democrat and Grandich a well-known conservative Republican. Yet, the two put their political views aside when it comes to helping the 9/11 first responders.
“People’s lives are at stake,” says John Feal, president of the FealGood Foundation. “I applaud people like Peter and Vin who are diametrically opposed politically, yet they come together to aid dying first responders. It’s a crime that Congress can’t do the same.”
The non-partisan nature of the event is further highlighted by the officials who will be honored at the event. The FealGood Foundation will recognize three elected officials who have been ardent supporters of H.R.847, 9/11 Health & Compensation Act: U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (D), State Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini (R) and Beachwood, NJ Mayor Ron Jones.
Sponsorships are available at $100 and $250 levels. Current sponsors include: Market Me!, Monitor Newspapers, Trinity Financial Sports & Entertainment Management Co. LLC., Dr. Steve Silberberg, Deborah Weiss of Critelli & Kilbride Realtors, The Network Connection LLC, Birdsall Services Group, Keyport IHOP, and Creative Approach LLC.
Tickets for the event are $35 and include cocktails and light fare. For sponsorship information or to RSVP, email vin.gopal.2008@gmail.com or call Jo Schloeder 732-751-1004.
About the Feal Good Foundation: The primary mission of the FealGood Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to spread awareness and educate the public about the catastrophic health effects on 9/11 first responders, as well as to provide assistance to relieve these great heroes of the financial burdens placed on them over the last eight years. A secondary goal of the Foundation is to create a network of advocacy on 9/11 healthcare issues. We not only advocate for Ground Zero workers, but show others how they can advocate for themselves and help others through grassroots activism. For more info go to www.FealGoodFoundation.com.
Let Me Count the Ways
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The House bill would've passed if not for the Dems shenanigans which made it require a two thirds vote for passage. They did this so they don't have to go on the record voting for benefits for illegal immigrants. They could've gone with a simple majority, but then Republicans would've been allowed to introduce the illegals amendment. It didn't have to pass, but the Dems would've had to vote for taxpayer funds going to illegals. So they preferred to go with the 2/3 vote.
It also has to be mentioned that there are two previous bills providing benefits to 9/11 first responders, this was just expanding their scope. So the failure of the current bill doesn't mean the first responders are left with no benefits.
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