Help Victor's Sportswear rebuild after looting
Donation protected
I'm asking for help for my friends, the Santiago family, who have seen their life's work, Victor's Sportswear, devastated.
First by several months of forced shutdown due to Covid 19; and again last weekend by unprecedented looting and vandalism.
Victor and I have been friends for over 25 years - we've had each others back through thick and thin, he was even officiant at my wedding. He and his family are to me, the embodiment of the American dream: work hard, love your family, be a good person and good things will happen for you.
Their store has been a pillar and favorite of Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood since the mid 1990s.
The criminals who did this smashed windows, forced open a security gate and looted over half of their inventory (causing over $50,000 in losses between theft and damage), before neighbors intervened and temporarily chased them off.
Victor Sr. and his sons Victor Jr. and Josue attempted to board up the broken windows and secure the store Sunday, only to be threatened by nine carloads of looters, who circled the building threatening and taunting them. Chicago Police were so overwhelmed by the rioting in various parts of the city, that they were unable to provide meaningful protection.
Wednesday morning at 3am, looters returned and attempted to break in again, thankfully being chased off before gaining access, but further damaging the security gate and window frames. There have been subsequent threats by looters that they would burn the building down, which adds to the already immense stress faced by the entire family.
It's unclear how much of the damage and loss insurance will cover, and when they may receive even a partial payment. It’s also unclear when it will finally be safe for them to reopen and resume their normal operations.
We're hoping to raise $40,000 or more, to help replace damaged windows, gates and building structure, to add some additional security features and to replace some of their inventory so they can reopen (when safe to do so).
We hope to help get them funds right away, as there's no telling what could happen, and we'd like to help them get reinforced glass and gates put in ASAP.
The Santiagos are some of the most generous, sincere and hard working people I know, and they've always made us all feel welcome and part of their family.
Victor Sr. is a religious and humble man, a truly great person who instilled strong values in his children, and loves his family and community deeply.
Victor Jr. served in the USMC before being honorably discharged. He worked a full-time job while he got his RN degree, and immediately went to work as a Nurse; doing what he loves best, helping people. He's currently a nurse at Sinai Hospital, where he's been heroically battling Covid 19 on the front lines. Working extra days, marathon long shifts and countless overtime to save lives, in a hospital that has been hit very hard by the pandemic.
Josue is a loving father of 3, who served in the 82nd Airborne for the US Army, and defended our country in combat in Iraq. Returning home, he bought the store from Victor Sr. and has worked tirelessly to improve it, and continue building the family business. Long hours, countless sacrifices, and blood, sweat and tears had allowed them to keep going, despite massive competition from large well-funded retailers, and online giants like Amazon and Zappos.
This is a small business tetering on the brink through no fault of their own, and they need and deserve help!
Here are a few words from Victor Jr.
"My father dropped out of school at the age of 14 and has worked his whole life to have what he has today. He also had to deal with racism and was taken advantage of by the system when he purchased a property. They made it very hard to succeed. My parents come from nothing and brought us to the middle class with determination, hard work, and love.
My brother purchased the business from my father after coming home from Iraq. It wasn’t given to him. My dad never taught us entitlement. He taught us to follow the law, hard work, and respect.
My brother had a little money saved from serving overseas and remodeled it. He made it better. That’s what we’re supposed to do as future generations, make it better.
To watch it get destroyed by other minorities and have our lives threatened hurt more than you could ever imagine."
PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING OUT
First by several months of forced shutdown due to Covid 19; and again last weekend by unprecedented looting and vandalism.
Victor and I have been friends for over 25 years - we've had each others back through thick and thin, he was even officiant at my wedding. He and his family are to me, the embodiment of the American dream: work hard, love your family, be a good person and good things will happen for you.
Their store has been a pillar and favorite of Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood since the mid 1990s.
The criminals who did this smashed windows, forced open a security gate and looted over half of their inventory (causing over $50,000 in losses between theft and damage), before neighbors intervened and temporarily chased them off.
Victor Sr. and his sons Victor Jr. and Josue attempted to board up the broken windows and secure the store Sunday, only to be threatened by nine carloads of looters, who circled the building threatening and taunting them. Chicago Police were so overwhelmed by the rioting in various parts of the city, that they were unable to provide meaningful protection.
Wednesday morning at 3am, looters returned and attempted to break in again, thankfully being chased off before gaining access, but further damaging the security gate and window frames. There have been subsequent threats by looters that they would burn the building down, which adds to the already immense stress faced by the entire family.
It's unclear how much of the damage and loss insurance will cover, and when they may receive even a partial payment. It’s also unclear when it will finally be safe for them to reopen and resume their normal operations.
We're hoping to raise $40,000 or more, to help replace damaged windows, gates and building structure, to add some additional security features and to replace some of their inventory so they can reopen (when safe to do so).
We hope to help get them funds right away, as there's no telling what could happen, and we'd like to help them get reinforced glass and gates put in ASAP.
The Santiagos are some of the most generous, sincere and hard working people I know, and they've always made us all feel welcome and part of their family.
Victor Sr. is a religious and humble man, a truly great person who instilled strong values in his children, and loves his family and community deeply.
Victor Jr. served in the USMC before being honorably discharged. He worked a full-time job while he got his RN degree, and immediately went to work as a Nurse; doing what he loves best, helping people. He's currently a nurse at Sinai Hospital, where he's been heroically battling Covid 19 on the front lines. Working extra days, marathon long shifts and countless overtime to save lives, in a hospital that has been hit very hard by the pandemic.
Josue is a loving father of 3, who served in the 82nd Airborne for the US Army, and defended our country in combat in Iraq. Returning home, he bought the store from Victor Sr. and has worked tirelessly to improve it, and continue building the family business. Long hours, countless sacrifices, and blood, sweat and tears had allowed them to keep going, despite massive competition from large well-funded retailers, and online giants like Amazon and Zappos.
This is a small business tetering on the brink through no fault of their own, and they need and deserve help!
Here are a few words from Victor Jr.
"My father dropped out of school at the age of 14 and has worked his whole life to have what he has today. He also had to deal with racism and was taken advantage of by the system when he purchased a property. They made it very hard to succeed. My parents come from nothing and brought us to the middle class with determination, hard work, and love.
My brother purchased the business from my father after coming home from Iraq. It wasn’t given to him. My dad never taught us entitlement. He taught us to follow the law, hard work, and respect.
My brother had a little money saved from serving overseas and remodeled it. He made it better. That’s what we’re supposed to do as future generations, make it better.
To watch it get destroyed by other minorities and have our lives threatened hurt more than you could ever imagine."
PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING OUT
Fundraising team (4)
Colin Comer
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Victor Santiago
Beneficiary
Dan Balanoff
Team member
Tate Troelstrup
Team member
