Kingwood fundraiser aims to help police officer’s daughter

Rachel was traveling to Alaska to help take care of a family friend’s children for the summer.

After initial treatment in Seattle, Rachel is back home on Texas soil. She is being treated in the burn unit at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.

Houston Police Department patrol captain, Bryan Bennett, said he has been in Kingwood almost a year and is amazed the amount of support this community has for its own residents.

“The family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, not only here but in Seattle too,” said Bennett. “Their police department has come out and helped with their best wishes and contributions.”

The Rachel Zientek “BIG TOP” fundraiser and barbecue will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Center Park in Kingwood. The goal is to raise at least $10,000 during the event to help with the medical expenses that Rachel faces, such as hospital costs and rehabilitation.

Entertainment/live music will be provided by two bands – Thunder, and The James Garner Band and Billy Ray (both groups have HPD officers).

“ We are so excited about the barbecue and the great music talent at the event,” said Gwendolyn Condoleo-Crawford, event coordinator. “We invite everyone out for a beautiful day for a great cause.  Officer Zientek is so special to this community and I know his family is going to be overjoyed.”

“Everything that has gone into the initial stage of the fundraiser has been really overwhelming,” said Bennett. “There is a good possibility of the family coming home this week because Rachel really wants to be home to see this thing take place.”

Ways to contribute include donating items for the event, writing a donation (which can also be mailed to the charity committee) or sponsoring a booth. Each booth is $50 and can be set up with activities such as face painting, basketball, duck pond, bean bag toss or any other family-orientated activity. All proceeds go to the fundraiser.

Sponsors and donors (as of press time) for the event include: Porter Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary; Kevin and Robin O’Toole; Donna Ballard (Ballard’s Pest Control); ·Sysco; Alspaugh’s Ace Hardware; Sullivan’s Automotive Paint and Body; Kingwood Tea Party Society; Edward Jones  (Jonathan Blakelock/Amy Griffin); Kingwood Rotary; Café du Bois; AMI; Marine Enforcement Division; Mounted Patrol and the SWAT Team; HPOU (Houston Police Officers Union); The Tribune Newspapers; Abe Willis/Valance Operating Co.; Main Street Bank; Lions Club; Brian Danneman - Custom Management Co.; Rolly & Pam McNair; Marshall and Tina Settegast; Mr. and Mrs. Howard Daniels; Norma O’Donnell - O’Donnell Distributing; Marie Halvatsis; Kroger in Kingwood; Mabel Floyd; TCPA; Lake Houston YMCA; Mike Lawler - Lawler’s Cheesecakes; Shannon Wyckoff; Terri and Leah Pyles.

Silent auction donors (as of press time) include: Cici’s Pizza of Kingwood; State Inspection Of Kingwood; Kingwood Tire and Auto; Massage Envy; John Sorrentino; Astros Baseball Club; Starplex Cinema (Ted Mandel); Strikemaster Bowling League; Homestead Inspection Group; Ballard’s Pest Control; Venus Tan and Spa – Humble; La Madeleine in The Woodlands; The Mane Event (hair salon) in Humble.

“We are hoping for best,” said Bennett. “The amount of community support already gotten by word going out to the grapevine is pretty amazing and we’re hoping with the support for local media and word of mouth by the community that this thing will be bigger than ever expected. I think it will be a great day for the Zientek family.”

To contribute a donation through mail: The Itty Bitty Charity Committee P.O. Box 6985, Kingwood, TX 77325. Checks are payable to A Grand Affair- Rachel Zientek Fund.

Photo: A fundraiser for Rachel Zientek, 16, will be held on Aug. 7 at Town Center Park in Kingwood.