patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Rockers, Restaurateurs and More Rally for O'Rourke Family Trust

Huntington Woods musician Stewart Francke will perform during a benefit concert in Royal Oak and Rackham Golf Course will donate some proceeds as part of efforts throughout Oakland County to aid the slain West Bloomfield Police officer's love ones.

 

Royal Oak Music Theatre will be rocking Oct. 2 with special purpose — to benefit the family of slain West Bloomfield Police Officer Patrick O'Rourke.

O'Rourke, 39, was fatally shot Sept. 9 while responding with other officers to what police believed could have been a suicidal man. The incident sparked a barricaded gunman standoff that ended when police found the suspect, Ricky Coley, 50, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

O'Rourke was the department's first officer killed in the line of duty.

Birmingham-based classic rock radio station 94.7 WCSX-FM will broadcast live from the theatre next Tuesday as a host of Metro Detroit-area rock stars including Fifty Amp Fuse, Mitch Ryder and Stewart Francke (of Huntington Woods) perform, with proceeds to benefit a family trust established through Bank of America.

The venue will open up at 12 p.m. to take donations for those who can't make it to the event, but doors won't open until 7 p.m. Admission to the concert will be $10.

Restaurants organizing benefit next week

Organizers of a restaurant benefit Oct. 3 hope to raise $100,000 to benefit the family trust, by donating 25 percent of sales that day.

"I knew immediately that my staff and I would do whatever we could to help the O'Rourke family, and I also knew that the community would feel the same. Reaching out to other chefs to join in the effort was a no-brainer," said chef Matt Prentice, owner of Morels and Detroit Prime in Farmington Hills, who spearheaded the effort.

The following area restaurants are currently scheduled to participate in the Tables for 4 benefit:

Other ways you can help

  • White Palace Mediterranean of West Bloomfield pledged to donate 20 percent of sales all day Friday. The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-12 midnight.
  • Alexandria Mediterranean Cuisine at 43155 Main St. in Novi, pledged to donate 10 percent of sales all day Oct. 5. The restaurant is open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
  • The Fenton Police Department is working with the Knights of Columbus to benefit the family trust. Fenton Police Chief Rick Aro said donations are being accepted at the Fenton police station for O'Rourke's widow, Amy, and four children, who live in Fenton. The Fenton police will give any donations, in the form of checks or money orders, to the O'Rourke family.
  • The Bloomfield Township Police Department is offering silicone bracelets for sale "to show your solidarity with the law enforcement community" and the family trust. The cost of the $4 bracelet will go to benefit the family trust.
  • Robert Vargo and Jim Gall of Vargo Golf Company will donate 50 percent of all golf proceeds Oct. 1 to benefit the family trust. The golf courses included are Rackham golf course of Huntington Woods, Rouge Park golf course of Detroit, Chandler Park golf course of Detroit, Palmer Park golf course of Detroit, Myth golf course of Oakland Township, Bruce Hills golf course of Romeo and Hampton golf club of Rochester Hills.
  • The Rochester Police Department is partnering with Ponds & Beyond Landscaping to sponsor a carnival and garden walk at Long Meadow Elementary School in Rochester Hills ($10 admission). The proceeds from the event Oct. 6 between 11 a.m.-4 p.m. — featuring pumpkin-decorating, clowns, face-painting, a pie-eating contest and more — will benefit the family trust. 

Recent highlights

    Related Topics: Patrick O'Rourke, Rackham Golf Course, Stewart Francke, and west bloomfield police

    Leave a comment

     
     
     

    In This article

    See more

    See More on Patch

     

    Most Popular articles