West Essex Student Starts Fund for Sick Marines

West Essex Regional High School student and football player Henry Zimmermann and his West Essex Knights football Head Coach Dave Drozjock have formed a fund which collects money for wounded and sick members of the armed forces. 

Zimmermann first became inspired to help the military after he met a Marine named Milton through his father, Henry Zimmermann Sr. Before he was 24-years-old, Milton had served two tours in Iraq as a helicopter mechanic and a hazardous materials handler. 

In November 2009, Milton was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), as a result of being poisoned while serving in Iraq. 

"Henry met him and he couldn't go to the hospital because he was too sick, but Henry didn't know that at the time because I didn't tell him," Zimmermann Sr. said. 

Nevertheless, Zimmermann wanted to raise money for the Marine and thought football was a great way to do it. The concept was that a set donation would be made per yard and at the end of the season that money would be donated to Marines Care. 

Unfortunately, due to an injury, Zimmermann was unable to play last year. 

When Milton passed away in March, Zimmermann was even more driven to establish a fund. Zimmermann partnered with Coach Dave Drozjock to start the Zimms Fund.  

Zimmermann is unable to play this football season, but the Zimms Fund is still accepting donations through its website. All donations will be sent to Marines Care, a 501 c(3) non-profit organization established to specifically help sick and wounded members of the military. 

Marines Care was established in 2005. Members make monthly visits to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. and the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Zimmermann Sr. first heard about Marines Care through his friend Sgt. Dominic Monaco. Gunnery Sgt. Mario "Gunny" Monaco, Dominic's brother, is affiliated with Marines Care.

"We'll get the money, we'll send it to marines overseas–Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps.–all branches of service. If an individual needs a house built, we work with Homes for Our Troops, we're actually building five homes in the area now," Gunny said. 

Gunny describes Marines Care as "an all-around organization." Another way in which Marines Care gives back is by sending books, school supplies and toys to children in Afghanistan, Africa and Iraq.

Marines Care also uses donations to provide blankets and gift cards to the wounded warriors and their families and the money is personally delivered. Everyone who donates is invited to visit Bethesda with the other soldiers so that they can see exactly where their money is going. 

Henry Zimmermann Sr. and Gunnery Sgt. Mario Monaco spoke to the West Essex Board of Education about Zimms Fund and Marines Care on Monday night.

"Politics have nothing to do with this. There is no one is this room who would disagree that we want to do whatever we can to help the wounded. So I thank you most sincerely for coming and sharing all of this with us this evening," Board President Phyllis Helmstetter said. 

Representatives of Marines Care will be at West Essex Regional High School on Friday to help promote the organization. 

For more information, visit www.zimmsfund.com and www.marinescare.org.