FF_071819

6 | July 18, 2019 | the frankfort station news
frankfortstation.com
‘Never Back Down’ toy drive returns for 11th year
Nuria Mathog, Editor
For more than a decade,
Frankfort residents
John and Jill Duggan have
been making a difference
in the lives of young cancer
patients — a way of
continuing to honor their
son Sean, who lost his
battle to rhabdoid cancer
in 2009.
Each year, the Sean
Duggan Foundation hosts
the “Never Back Down”
toy drive, which collects
donated toys and delivers
them to oncology patients
at Ann & Robert H. Lurie
Children’s Hospital in
Chicago.
“At some point before
Sean passed away, he
made me promise that I
would always help kids
that had cancer,” Jill Duggan
said. “This is what
my husband and I came
up with, and this is what
we’re going to continue
doing.”
This year, toys can be
donated through Monday,
Aug. 5, and the donations
will be dropped off at the
hospital on Aug. 7, Sean’s
21st birthday.
“There’s children that
are there that are anywhere
from infants to 18
years old, so a lot of people
like to get Barbies and
trucks and stuff like that,”
Jill Duggan said. “But we
do accept rattles, little
toys for babies and also
gift cards, which are really
good for the older kids.”
Jill Duggan said she
hopes the foundation receives
at least 1,000 toys
this year. Since the toy
drive was first launched,
community members have
donated more than 10,000
toys to the cause.
Toys can be dropped
off at several locations
throughout Chicagoland:
Peace Community
Church, 21300 S. La-
Grange Road in Frankfort;
Tribes Beer Company,
11120 Front St. in
Mokena; Tribes Alehouse
& Grill, 9501 W. 171st
St. in Tinley Park; Sizzles
Restaurant, 110 Mac-
Gregor Road in Lockport;
and Horse Thief Hollow
Craft Brewery, 10426 S.
Western Ave. in Chicago.
Next year, the Duggans’
teenage children
—15-year-old daughter
Abbey and 14-year-old
son Aidan — will be in
charge of running the toy
drive, with some help
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At the 10th annual "Never Back Down" toy drive, (left to right) Kalynn Duggan, Wendy Stellpflug, Jill Duggan and
Willow Messier pose next to bags filled with donated toys. Photo submitted
from their parents, Jill
Duggan said.
“My daughter will have
her license next year,” she
explained. “She’ll be able
to go drive and pick up
party
From Page 3
rade and popcorn.
“We’re also honored to
tell residents about Lincolnway
Special Rec and
tell them what services
we offer,” Reczek said.
“There are a lot of people
who still don’t know who
we are. Everybody knows
somebody with special
needs. We want them to
tell their special someone
who Lincolnway Special
Rec is and what they can
do and how they can get
the toys and all that. So,
the goal eventually is for
them to take over.”
Jill Duggan added she
wanted to thank the community
for the support the
involved in our district.”
According to the organization’s
website, the
LWSRA offers a wide variety
of programs, including
participation in Special
Olympics Illinois, as
well as social programs,
childrens programs and
special events and trips.
Member park districts,
such as the Frankfort Park
District, provide support
to ensure the success of
the events and the work of
LWSRA.
KW Corona Realty
Group CEO Alex Corona
foundation had received
throughout the years.
“We’re reaching out
farther to other locations
like Tinley, Chicago,” she
added. “We’re hoping to
said his business is usually
at most of the events
in Frankfort.
“I’ve been doing community
work ever since I
can remember,” Corona
said. “Our motto is ‘where
community meets real estate.’”
As his employees
helped children play miniature
golf or spin the
wheel, Corona looked on
and smiled.
“It’s all about these
kids,” he said. “We want
to make sure they’re being
taken care of and show
get people in other areas
to drop off as well.”
More information on
the toy drive can be found
at www.seandugganfoun
dation.org.
them the right way.”
Frankfort parent Brenda
Molloy brings her daughter
to most of the events as
well and has been attending
events in the Village
for nine years.
“We love coming to all
the Parties In the Park,”
Molloy said. “They’re
fun. This gives us something
to do throughout the
summer ... We love the DJ
and the games. My daughter
can play with all the
kids and see her friends
that she hasn’t seen since
school let out.”