Co Founders Sarah and Kathy stand next to the parade float built to represent FVTS in the2009 Loyalty Day and Memorial Day parades.

FVTS Board Members from left to right: Secretary/Chaplain Ken Carr, Co-Founder Sarah Giachino, Treasurer Chuck Timm, Co-Founder Kathy Tobusch

Kathy Tobusch - Co Founder 

Kathy Tobusch is a mother of 4 with 2 sons & 2 daughters.  In September of 2006 her son (Stephen) who was in the Army was deployed to Iraq for 15 months.  Then in March of 2007 her son Alex who is in the Marines was deployed to Iraq. With having both of the boys there, she was always sending care packages to them. They would send her e-mails telling her about guys serving with them who never received mail.  So she started sending packages to anyone the boys told her about.  In December of 2006 through a mutual acquaintance Kathy met Sarah Giachino, Chuck Timm & Ken Carr.  Realizing they all had the same goal in mind, Fox Valley Troop Support was created.

Sarah Giachino - Co Founder 

In 2001, Sarah Giachino discovered hundreds of WWll love letters in her parents attic located in Spencer, W. VA. Sarah's father,  Purple Heart recipient Charles Hardman, was a Lt in the Army, 117th Infantry, 30th Division, arrived on Omaha Beach D-Day plus 7 and fought the Nazi's all the way through the Battle of the Bulge. During his deployment, Sarah's Mother was pregnant with their first son. They wrote to each other every single day.

 When Sarah read all of their letters, she  realized that the powerful messages hope and support from her mother and the folks back home kept her father alive during his long deployment.  Since 2004 she has been sending hundreds of letters and care packages to deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In 2006, Sarah joined efforts with other passionate supporters (Kathy Tobusch, Ken Carr and Chuck Timm) to co found Fox Valley Troop Support Inc.

Chuck Timm - Treasurer

Volunteering for Fox Valley Troop Support is an easy task for Chuck Timm. He remembers receiving  packages from his mother while he was in VietNam and what it meant to him to receive something from a loved one back in the "world".

No matter what our thoughts are about this conflict Chuck believes it is extremely important for us not to forget about our men and women who are serving to protect our freedom, with not only care packages, but also with any support we can give them and their families. Chuck would like to extend our appreciation on their return from deployment by taking this opportunity to thank each and every one of you who have given your support. Chuck considers it an honor to serve our troops through FVTS.

Ken Carr - Secretary/Chaplain

Ken Carr is currently a pastor in Batavia for the past 8 years and a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserves since 1987.  When people find out that Ken is in the military they naturally assume he might be interested in supporting our troops. They are right!  Ken became connected with Fox Valley Troop Support and has enjoyed his involvement over the last 3 years.

Jon Pitterle - Website Administrator

Darlene Desso - Welcome Home Committee