Community Corner

Community Rallies to Support Palatine Family After Tragic Death

The father of a senior at Palatine High School passed away suddenly last weekend after falling down a flight of stairs. Now the school, non-profit organizations and the business community, is rallying to support the family.

The father of a Palatine High School senior died suddenly last weekend, and the Palatine community is now gathering around to support the family.

Barry Walls, the father of a senior at Palatine High School, fell down a flight of stairs on Saturday, December 8 and died of his injuries in the hospital.

Walls lived most of his adult life in Palatine, and his wife Dawn is a PHS graduate. He was a former Lance Corporal in the United States Marines, a carpenter, active with the Cub Scouts of American and volunteered with the Palatine Jaycees, according to his obituary. He also was a part-time actor.

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In addition to his son Bradley who attends Palatine High School as a senior, Walls and his wife have three older daughters who all grew up in Palatine and graduated from PHS.

PHS students have held fundraisers all week at the school for Bradley’s family, to help cover funeral costs and medical bills from the time that his father spent in the hospital before he passed away.

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Just this past Wednesday, a group of PHS basketball players asked for donations from other students in exchange for a cookie. Then on Thursday, students got more creative.

“The boys decided to sing karaoke if students donated $20 or more, so if the donation was received, they volunteerd themselves to sing in front of all the students in the lunch room,” said Eric Gronwick, a father of a PHS student involved in the fundraising, and a former baseball and soccer coach to Bradley.

During the two days, the students raised around $5,000.

“Our students are amazing…they are continuing their efforts and hope to continue to raise funds to help support one of their friends in need,” the Palatine High School Facebook page read Friday morning.

Another teammate passed around a collection jar at a band performance Thursday night, and raised $2,000, Gronwick said. 

A group of students also planned to sell raffle tickets for a large screen TV donated by a Palatine High School club, Friday night at the PHS boys varsity basketball game.

Palatine-based non-profit organization, PATH-Palatine Assisting Through Hope has also stepped in to assist the family and help to garner funds for them.

“This family has been the victim of several misfortunes over the past few years including losing their home to a house fire, and are currently in financial hardship.  There are four children who all went through the Palatine school district with the senior being the youngest,” PATH stated in an email sent out to their volunteer network.   

If you would like to contribute to this cause, you can go to any Chase Bank and make a donation to the account of Dawn M. Walls

Donations also are being accepted through PATH, 100% of the funds raised will be applied to this case. Please reference PATH case #1235 on any contributions.  Visit the PATH website, at www.path-palatine.org  for instructions on how to donate.  

Three area businesses have joined in supporting the Walls family by donating a portion of food sales between Friday, December 14 through Friday, December 21.

**Hot Dogs Richies, 220 N. Northwest Highway, is donating a portion of the proceeds of all food orders on Saturday, December 15 and Sunday, December 16. 

**Pizza Bella, 100 W. Northwest Highway, is donating a portion of all food orders from Tuesday, December 18 through Friday, December 21.

**Mention the Walls family when ordering. 

Photos Hot Dogs, 301 N. Northwest Highway, pledged to donate 25% of the proceeds of food orders from Friday, December 14.


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