The 5th Annual "For Pete's Sake"
Donation protected
“For Pete’s Sake” Our Background
“For Pete’s Sake” is an annual charitable event held in honor of the late Peter Matthew Bergstrom. Following the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, Peter selflessly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps the very next day. He subsequently served two tours of duty in Iraq with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division in ground support for the initial “Shock & Awe” campaign on Baghdad, Iraq. Peter was a true Patriot with a strong sense of honor, duty and respect. After his four years with the USMC Peter joined the Minnesota ARMY National Guard. Though he came home safe and continued his life as a civilian and "civilian soldier", he was fighting a fight that his family and friends didn’t know or see. We lost Peter on February 25, 2011 to an accidental drug overdose.
The inaugural “For Pete’s Sake” event was organized and hosted by Peter’s family and was held on September 11, 2011. Over 150 friends and family were invited to come for food, live music and games. The event ended up raising over $1,000 in donations for the Wounded Warrior Project®, the same organization that received contributions in lieu of flowers from Peter’s funeral.
The 2012 event gathered donations in excess of $2,500 for the Minnesota non-profit Tribute To The Troops. Smaller donations were made to Honor and Remember and The Minnesota Patriot Guard. Since 2004, members of the MN Tribute to the Troops have conducted an annual motorcycle ride weekend each September, visiting dozens of Gold Star Families over the years that have lost a loved one to the War on Terror. Each year, the number of participants at “For Pete’s Sake” has grown, helping to increase awareness among others of the ultimate sacrifice made by these brave American Heroes and their families. On September 11, 2015, Peter's family will be visited and recognized by MN Tribute To The Troops organization as a Gold Star Family.
In 2013, over $5,000 was gathered in donations for the Minnesota non-profit Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (Paw PADS), whose focus is on training of service dogs for people with physical mobility disabilities. Paw PADS has in innovative program called “Paw Corps” that is designed to assist veterans who are experiencing PTSD reconnect with their civilian lives, their families and society in general.
In 2014, “For Pete’s Sake” raised just under $7,500 in donations which were donated 100% again to Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs) and we saw our participation numbers reach well over 250 generous individuals. In late 2014, “For Pete’s Sake” was granted 501(c) (3) Charitable Organization status from the IRS (EIN 46-4672170) Public Charity Status: 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).
2015 Plans are currently underway for the 5th Annual “For Pete’s Sake” event to take place on Sunday September 27th in Bloomington, MN.
“For Pete’s Sake” is non-secular and is not associated with any political party. It is simply a way to gather people who support the men and women who have served and currently serve our country, and raise money solely for non-profit organizations that work to support these courageous men and women.
Please visit our Facebook page at:
For Pete's Sake - MN
Funds raised will help off-set the costs associated with the annual event, once again allowing 100% of all proceeds to be donated to Paw PADS. Thank you for your continued support.
“For Pete’s Sake” is an annual charitable event held in honor of the late Peter Matthew Bergstrom. Following the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, Peter selflessly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps the very next day. He subsequently served two tours of duty in Iraq with Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment 1st Marine Division in ground support for the initial “Shock & Awe” campaign on Baghdad, Iraq. Peter was a true Patriot with a strong sense of honor, duty and respect. After his four years with the USMC Peter joined the Minnesota ARMY National Guard. Though he came home safe and continued his life as a civilian and "civilian soldier", he was fighting a fight that his family and friends didn’t know or see. We lost Peter on February 25, 2011 to an accidental drug overdose.
The inaugural “For Pete’s Sake” event was organized and hosted by Peter’s family and was held on September 11, 2011. Over 150 friends and family were invited to come for food, live music and games. The event ended up raising over $1,000 in donations for the Wounded Warrior Project®, the same organization that received contributions in lieu of flowers from Peter’s funeral.
The 2012 event gathered donations in excess of $2,500 for the Minnesota non-profit Tribute To The Troops. Smaller donations were made to Honor and Remember and The Minnesota Patriot Guard. Since 2004, members of the MN Tribute to the Troops have conducted an annual motorcycle ride weekend each September, visiting dozens of Gold Star Families over the years that have lost a loved one to the War on Terror. Each year, the number of participants at “For Pete’s Sake” has grown, helping to increase awareness among others of the ultimate sacrifice made by these brave American Heroes and their families. On September 11, 2015, Peter's family will be visited and recognized by MN Tribute To The Troops organization as a Gold Star Family.
In 2013, over $5,000 was gathered in donations for the Minnesota non-profit Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (Paw PADS), whose focus is on training of service dogs for people with physical mobility disabilities. Paw PADS has in innovative program called “Paw Corps” that is designed to assist veterans who are experiencing PTSD reconnect with their civilian lives, their families and society in general.
In 2014, “For Pete’s Sake” raised just under $7,500 in donations which were donated 100% again to Pawsitive Perspectives Assistance Dogs (PawPADs) and we saw our participation numbers reach well over 250 generous individuals. In late 2014, “For Pete’s Sake” was granted 501(c) (3) Charitable Organization status from the IRS (EIN 46-4672170) Public Charity Status: 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).
2015 Plans are currently underway for the 5th Annual “For Pete’s Sake” event to take place on Sunday September 27th in Bloomington, MN.
“For Pete’s Sake” is non-secular and is not associated with any political party. It is simply a way to gather people who support the men and women who have served and currently serve our country, and raise money solely for non-profit organizations that work to support these courageous men and women.
Please visit our Facebook page at:
For Pete's Sake - MN
Funds raised will help off-set the costs associated with the annual event, once again allowing 100% of all proceeds to be donated to Paw PADS. Thank you for your continued support.
Organizer
Bob Bergstrom
Organizer
Minneapolis, MN
