Arlington Heights resident and local veteran Marine Sergeant Daniel Tsutsumi served in the United States Marine Corps for eight years.  He saw combat in Iraq and stayed for four additional years in the Individual Ready Reserve. Yet none of these experiences prepared this 2003 Prospect High School graduate for his greatest challenge yet - overcoming a traumatic cervical spine injury sustained during a terrible accident. 

Because of the physical limitations of being in a wheelchair, Sgt. Tsutsumi must move into his family’s home as he works through rehabilitation.  His parents are renovating their home to make it more accessible for their son, adding a first floor bathroom and bedroom, along with ramps to make navigation easier.  To help with the cost of these renovations, friends and family are hosting a fundraiser and silent auction, "Raisin' the Roof," on Friday, November 16, from 6 - 9 p.m. at Durty Nellie's in Palatine.  Local favorite cover band Bucket Number Six, whose band members are longtime friends of the Tsutsumi Family, will be performing live.  The $75/ticket price includes open bar, food, auction items, entertainment and more.   To purchase tickets or to make a donation, visit www.designingforveterans.org.  Updates and details on the event can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bucketnumbersix.

All proceeds from  the “Raisin’ the Roof” event will go toward improving the accessibility of Sgt. Tsutsumi's family home as he faces intensive rehabilitation.   Designing for Veterans, a nonprofit interior design organization, which provides pro bono professional interior design services, furnishings and construction/remodel to severely disabled veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars at no cost to the veteran or their families, will be leading the project.

For more information about the event, contact Greg Carlisle at 847-571-5443.  Tickets purchased for “Raisin’ the Roof” and all donations made on behalf of Sgt. Tsutsumi are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.