People, Places and Things: Sgt. Tommy's Kids

Marine Sgt. Thomas Gilbert had three great passions in life: his family, the great outdoors and children. Five years ago, the 24-year old native of Downers Grove was killed while serving in Iraq. His devastated family and friends planned almost immediately to create a lasting tribute to him. 

“We decided we wanted to start a foundation to educate kids about the outdoors, and to keep his spirit alive,” said his sister Tammy Gilbert DeStefano of Downers Grove.

The Sgt. Thomas M. Gilbert Memorial Foundation is a 501c3 charity more commonly known as Sgt. Tommy’s Kids. Although Gilbert had no children, DeStefano said that the hope is that each child participating in a sponsored program will consider themselves to be “one of Sgt. Tommy’s Kids.”

The mission of Sgt. Tommy’s Kids is to promote youth education and appreciation of the outdoors. On Saturday, October 1, the foundation will hold its second annual golf outing to raise funds to support some of its programs. The main annual event is Sgt. Tommy’s Kids Fishing Derby, held at Herrick Lake in Wheaton.

”Tommy loved to fish. Most kids get a bike for their tenth birthday. He got a fishing boat. He and my dad fixed up an old fishing boat together, and that was his tenth birthday gift,” said DeStefano. The fishing derby gives hundreds of kids, many of whom may never have fished before, the chance to experience something that Gilbert loved.

“We had our first fishing derby event less than a year after Tommy died,” said DeStefano. “This past June was our fifth fishing day. We’ve gotten more than 750 fishing poles into kids’ hands since Tom died.”

The event is targeted to children ages 3-15 who have family members in the military or police or fire departments.

”We target it right now to our country’s heroes, but we’d like to open it up to all kids,” said DeStefano.

A free rod and reel and tackle are provided to each child, along with instructions on how to fish. Volunteers help bait the hooks and there are clinics for casting as well as arts and crafts, games and lunch. “The kids love the fishing day. Their smiles are unbelievable,” said DeStefano.

A more recent undertaking of the foundation has been to send kids to Camp Edwards, an outdoor education program in which many area schools participate.

“Tommy and my sister and I all attended Camp Edwards as kids. Tom loved it, and so when we learned through a friend that some school districts were finding it difficult to fund, and that it might have to be cut, we said, ‘let’s see what we can do,’” said DeStefano. Proceeds from last year’s inaugural golf outing sponsored 300 kids’ attendance at Camp Edwards.  

There have been no shortage of volunteers eager to step forward for any of the events or fundraisers for Sgt. Tommy’s Kids, and three generations of extended family comprise much of the volunteer base.   

“There were eight kids in my dad’s (Michael) family and the majority of aunts, uncles and cousins still live in the area. We’re a pretty close knit family. My mom’s (Theresa) side all lives in the area too and we’re very close. My cousins are more like brothers and sisters,” DeStefano said. 

Along with family, the community at large has warmly embraced Gilbert’s parents and siblings.

“We’ve felt support from the community since the day he died, and it’s continued,” said DeStefano. “Neighbors still put flags lining our street three times every year: on his birthday, on the anniversary of his death, and on Memorial Day. When I see them, my heart always stops for a second as I realize that people don’t forget. They remember my brother and will continue to make sure that he’s not forgotten and that his sacrifice won’t be forgotten.”

DeStefano said that events like the golf outing and the fishing derby reflect a bit of triumph than can arise from the tragedy of her brother’s death.

“It lifts our spirits. We all just have a good feeling at the end of the day. We feel like my brother has been with us, smiling down at us, and that we’ve done something pretty magnificent,” she said. “This gives us some way to funnel our sadness. There’s a hole that he’s left behind, and these are things we do to try to fill it.  It won’t ever be filled all of the way, but it’s something, and it helps other people to remember him. It helps us know that other people aren’t forgetting him.”

Sgt. Tommy’s Kids will hold its second annual golf tournament on Saturday, October 1 at Village Greens Golf Course in Woodridge. Registration for golfers and for dinner, still remain open.  For additional information or to make a donation, visit www.sgttommyskids.org.