ELGIN, Ill. — The Celebrity Bartender Bash, a special event to support the families of recently killed or injured Illinois police officers, will be held Friday, March 4 from 5 to 10 p.m. at Murray Bros. Caddy Shack, 9546 Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont. The event is sponsored by the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association (IPPFA), which administers the Heroes Family Fund.
The proceeds from the March 4 Celebrity Bartender Bash will assist the families of Bradley Sgt. Marlene Rittmanic, who was killed in the line of duty; her partner Officer Tyler Bailey, who was severely wounded; Aurora Officer Brian Shields and Sgt. Ken Thurman, who both died of complications from COVID-19; and Bensenville Officer Steven Kotlewski, who was severely wounded responding to a call.
“The Celebrity Bartender Bash will be a fun outing for a vital cause,” said IPPFA President James McNamee. “Law enforcement officers constantly put their lives on the line, and unfortunately more and more of them pay with their livelihoods or lives. Let’s show these heroes and their families how much we appreciate their sacrifices.”
Well-known athletes, media personalities and other celebrity bartenders will pour drinks at the March 4 event while music is provided by Prizefighter. Tickets are $25 each and may be purchased at the door or online at www.ippfa.org. You must be at least 21 years of age to attend.
The Heroes Family Fund is the charitable arm of the IPPFA. Benefits are available to the families of police officers and firefighters who are members of IPPFA member pension boards.
The IPPFA was founded in 1985 as a not-for-profit organization whose mandate was to educate public pension fund trustees. In 2009 the IPPFA became the primary education provider for public pension fund trustees in the state of Illinois, and its members manage more than $18 billion in pension assets.