JANESVILLE — Rock County veterans are reaping the benefits from the work of the Badger Chordhawks Chorus and donations from local residents.
The Badger Chordhawks, a local men’s chorus, donated $25,000 to Rock County Veterans Services at its Patriotic Concert at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Janesville on July 2.
The $25,000 is made up of donations from the public that the Chordhawks organization matches dollar for dollar.
The $25,000 is up from $20,000 the last two years. Rock County Veterans Service Officer Paul Crawford called the donation “awesome.â€
“The support we receive is just tremendous,†Crawford said.
The Badger Chordhawks collect donations at concerts and on their website. All of the money goes to Rock County veterans.
“Every single penny goes into emergency situations,†Crawford said.
Those situations include helping pay for car repairs, finding lodging in hotels, helping them with energy bills or helping them pay their mortgage bills.
The donation to Rock County Veterans Services was the largest of five donations to veterans organizations in Rock and Dane counties. The Chordhawks also donated $500 to Dane County Veterans Services, $300 to VetsRoll and $100 to each of the Janesville and Edgerton VFW posts.
“This year’s response was extraordinary,†said Chris Smith, executive music director of the Chordhawks in a press release. “We welcomed more people than ever before, and their generosity was equally remarkable.â€
The concert featured service songs and readings “celebrating the American story,†the release said.
“Our service men and women have given more than we could ever repay,†Smith said. “The Patriotic Concert gives us an opportunity to say thank you, not only through the music we perform, but through tangible support for the people and organizations serving our heroes every day.â€