CBA Students Row To Raise $48K For Lt. Dennis Zilinski Memorial Fund

LINCROFT, NJ — On Saturday, students at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft raised $48,145 for the Lt. Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund. The money will go to support U.S. military troops who are currently deployed, and to purchase service dogs for American soldiers who have been injured in combat.

The teens raised the money through the second annual “Row with Dennis” ergathon, or row-athon, and they surpassed their goal of $30,000.

Zilinski, who grew up in Middletown, graduated from CBA, the private boys' Catholic high school, and then West Point Military Academy. After West Point, Zilinski joined the U.S. Army, and was killed in Iraq in 2005 by a roadside bomb. He was 23 years old.

The money raised will go to bolster the morale and welfare of members of the U.S. armed forces who are currently deployed, and to boost the morale of their families.

The fundraiser was started three years ago by CBA high school senior Jack Keavey, who this year passed the torch to three of his classmates, Kieran Feeney, Henry Kreitz and Finn Buckley. CBA rowing coach Brenin Ford oversaw the event.

“I am so proud and thankful for our CBA community," said Feeney, a CBA junior. "I am very fortunate to have Jack pass down the opportunity to co-chair. Seeing how much we donated really shows the possibility of changing lives, and I’m proud to save lives through the Zilinski Memorial Fund.”

Said Zilinski's mother, Marion Zilinski:

“What this event means to us is immeasurable. Dennis went to school here at CBA, and you are honoring him while helping wounded warriors by pairing them with service dogs."

After their son's death, she and her husband started the Lt Dennis W. Zilinski, II Memorial Fund, a 501(c (3) a non-profit organization. One of the main goals of the fund is to purchase service dogs for military veterans who have been injured in combat and have either Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

To date, the Zilinski Memorial Fund has purchased more than 100 service dogs for veterans, some of whom have lost legs or arms in combat. Additionally, the Zilinski Memorial Fund provides scholarships to students at Lt. Zilinski’s alma mater, CBA. The Zilinski family says they are looking for high school students who embody the leadership qualities and community spirit of Dennis.

The non-profit also hosts 5K races every year to raise money for U.S. military veterans, www.RunwithDennis.org Learn more: Runwithdennis@yahoo.com