thedrifter
07-02-08, 10:38 AM
07/02/2008
A Real Treat For Injured Marines
By: Erin Maguire , The Bulletin
Philadelphia - The Twistee Treat ice cream and water ice store at Frankford and Longshore avenues will donate 100 percent of its July 4 earnings to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
The store, owned by Paul and Linda Corbett, parents of two Marines and eight other children, is small but hard to miss -it's shaped like a big ice cream cone and is known to Mayfair locals as "The Cone."
Mr. and Mrs. Corbett decided last year to support the fund after Mr. Corbett heard about it on the radio.
In addition to donating all proceeds from this Independence Day, Twistee Treat will also collect donations for the fund. Also, all active duty and reserve military personnel who visit the shop will receive a free large ice cream, water ice or sundae.
"What we are doing is a drop in the bucket compared to what the need is," said Mr. Corbett of Twistee Treat's donation and fundraising efforts.
"They serve us every day," Mrs. Corbett said of servicemen. "What we are doing is very small and insignificant compared to what they do for us."
IMSFF was established on May 18, 2004, after a nurse at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital in California, whose husband was deployed to Iraq, saw firsthand the needs of those returning from battle. Because of medical advances, Marines and other servicemen are surviving injuries that were not survivable in past wars. And the extended hospital stays and months to years of recovery and rehabilitation faced by injured Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers place large burdens on them and their families.
To meet this need, IMSFF provides family and medical support, transportation and housing modification grants, specialized equipment grants, and money to assist Marines' transition between careers or educational opportunities. IMSFF also provides a therapeutic arts program and sports program to engage injured marines in activities that will support their physical, emotional and mental rehabilitation.
"Semper Fi" means "always faithful" and the mission of the fund is "serving those who preserve our freedom."
Since its inception, IMSFF has provided over 8,000 grants totaling over $21 million to injured Marines, service members injured while assigned to Marine forces and their families during their road to recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. Corbett hope that their small efforts at Twistee Treat will help families through IMSFF, and also raise awareness of the fund.
The event will take place on Independence Day to help patrons remember that "we still have guys fighting for our country," Mr. Corbett said.
Mr. Corbett's brother, Colonel Arthur Corbett, is serving his first tour in Iraq. The Corbetts' 25-year-old son, Patrick will leave for his second Iraq tour one week after the July 4 fundraiser. And their 20-year-old, Brian, is training in North Carolina.
"We're proud of them, first of all, but they also joined in a time of war, so it's scary," Mr. Corbett said.
Mrs. Corbett, tearing up with motherly concern, said, "As a mom, I don't like it, but they made a choice to volunteer to serve their country. And I thank God that there are guys out there who are willing to do this."
Mr. Corbett echoed his wife's sentiments. "(Our patrons) will be reminded that we're in the middle of a war and the reason they can eat cold ice cream on a hot day is because the (soldiers) are eating MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in the desert."
"When it's 115 degrees in Iraq right now," Mrs. Corbett added.
"The guys out there are doing jobs our country asks them to do. They're putting their lives on the line and a lot of them are getting injured. Their families are worrying about them. Anything anyone can do to help, they should do," Mr. Corbett said.
In addition to the Twistee Treat fundraiser, Mr. Corbett will continue supporting IMSFF, by promoting and finding sponsors for the IMSFF October fundraiser, Esprit De Corps. Beginning Oct. 22, four Marines will run 177.5 miles from Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, and end at the Marine Corps Marathon finish line in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 26. The Marines, inspired by IMSFF, have dedicated the run in honor of wounded veterans.
Twistee Treat is located at 6900 Frankford Avenue and is open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is open from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sunday. To learn more at IMSFF, or to make a donation, visit www.semperfifund.org
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
Ellie
A Real Treat For Injured Marines
By: Erin Maguire , The Bulletin
Philadelphia - The Twistee Treat ice cream and water ice store at Frankford and Longshore avenues will donate 100 percent of its July 4 earnings to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
The store, owned by Paul and Linda Corbett, parents of two Marines and eight other children, is small but hard to miss -it's shaped like a big ice cream cone and is known to Mayfair locals as "The Cone."
Mr. and Mrs. Corbett decided last year to support the fund after Mr. Corbett heard about it on the radio.
In addition to donating all proceeds from this Independence Day, Twistee Treat will also collect donations for the fund. Also, all active duty and reserve military personnel who visit the shop will receive a free large ice cream, water ice or sundae.
"What we are doing is a drop in the bucket compared to what the need is," said Mr. Corbett of Twistee Treat's donation and fundraising efforts.
"They serve us every day," Mrs. Corbett said of servicemen. "What we are doing is very small and insignificant compared to what they do for us."
IMSFF was established on May 18, 2004, after a nurse at Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital in California, whose husband was deployed to Iraq, saw firsthand the needs of those returning from battle. Because of medical advances, Marines and other servicemen are surviving injuries that were not survivable in past wars. And the extended hospital stays and months to years of recovery and rehabilitation faced by injured Operation Iraqi Freedom soldiers place large burdens on them and their families.
To meet this need, IMSFF provides family and medical support, transportation and housing modification grants, specialized equipment grants, and money to assist Marines' transition between careers or educational opportunities. IMSFF also provides a therapeutic arts program and sports program to engage injured marines in activities that will support their physical, emotional and mental rehabilitation.
"Semper Fi" means "always faithful" and the mission of the fund is "serving those who preserve our freedom."
Since its inception, IMSFF has provided over 8,000 grants totaling over $21 million to injured Marines, service members injured while assigned to Marine forces and their families during their road to recovery.
Mr. and Mrs. Corbett hope that their small efforts at Twistee Treat will help families through IMSFF, and also raise awareness of the fund.
The event will take place on Independence Day to help patrons remember that "we still have guys fighting for our country," Mr. Corbett said.
Mr. Corbett's brother, Colonel Arthur Corbett, is serving his first tour in Iraq. The Corbetts' 25-year-old son, Patrick will leave for his second Iraq tour one week after the July 4 fundraiser. And their 20-year-old, Brian, is training in North Carolina.
"We're proud of them, first of all, but they also joined in a time of war, so it's scary," Mr. Corbett said.
Mrs. Corbett, tearing up with motherly concern, said, "As a mom, I don't like it, but they made a choice to volunteer to serve their country. And I thank God that there are guys out there who are willing to do this."
Mr. Corbett echoed his wife's sentiments. "(Our patrons) will be reminded that we're in the middle of a war and the reason they can eat cold ice cream on a hot day is because the (soldiers) are eating MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) in the desert."
"When it's 115 degrees in Iraq right now," Mrs. Corbett added.
"The guys out there are doing jobs our country asks them to do. They're putting their lives on the line and a lot of them are getting injured. Their families are worrying about them. Anything anyone can do to help, they should do," Mr. Corbett said.
In addition to the Twistee Treat fundraiser, Mr. Corbett will continue supporting IMSFF, by promoting and finding sponsors for the IMSFF October fundraiser, Esprit De Corps. Beginning Oct. 22, four Marines will run 177.5 miles from Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, and end at the Marine Corps Marathon finish line in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 26. The Marines, inspired by IMSFF, have dedicated the run in honor of wounded veterans.
Twistee Treat is located at 6900 Frankford Avenue and is open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. It is open from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sunday. To learn more at IMSFF, or to make a donation, visit www.semperfifund.org
Erin Maguire can be reached at emaguire@thebulletin.us
Ellie