Investing in the Fox Valley Community
Since our foundation became a 501(c)(3) organization, we have donated over $100,000 to various charities across the area.
Who We Are
Our Mission
The McNamee Family Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization that supports local community food pantries along with environmental and STEM scholarship education for students in the Fox Valley area.
The Fish Food Pantry in Carpentersville was one of the recipients of funds from the inaugural ST. Patrick's Day Parades in East Dundee. Historically, the McNamee family has been deeply involved in this mission, alongside supporting the Friends of the Fox River.
Over the years, we've awarded scholarships to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students, helping to support their education and future careers.
Events like the Kilted 5K and the annual Thom McNamee St. Patrick's Day Parade have been tremendously successful, with proceeds contributing directly to our charitable causes. The "Shamrocks for Charity" initiative has been a key part of our mission to feed the community. We've expanded our efforts to include the D300 Food Pantry in Carpentersville, and we're eager to grow even more.
Sources for our mission
The Parade, Shamrocks for Charity and The Dublindee Kilted 5
2023
F.I.S.H.
In 2023 we donated more than $10,000 to the FISH Food pantry in Carpentersville, Illinois. We were also happy to donate $3000.00 to D300 Food Pantry.
Family
In 1955, The McNamee Family moved to the Fox Valley area in the brand-new subdivision of Carpentersville, Illinois. The family grew to eleven children who attended Fairview, St. Catherine of Siena, Lakewood, St. Edward High School, and Irving Crown High School. After the birth of her youngest child, their Mother, Joanne, graduated from Loyola University, receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Counseling. She taught math for the next 23 years. Traditionally, during the summer months, the McNamee family would go camping and traveling around the country. The family gained a deep respect for the environment and the wildlife that depend on it. Joanne instilled in her children the value of an education and the importance of serving others. These values became her children’s deepest passions. Active in scouting, in the local church and in school activities, the McNamee family carry on these values, and will continue to give back to their community with the help of the McNamee Family Foundation.
The McNamee family identical twin sons, Tim and Thom were best friends. After earning the rank of Eagle Scout and graduating high school, they worked their way through college and then law school. Tim and Thom graduated together from John Marshall Law School and opened a successful law practice in
Carpentersville. Known for working hard and playing hard, they supported each other in every endeavor. Affectionally known as Mac & Mackers by all that knew them, they sponsored and belonged to local softball and football teams, always wearing their mirror image numbers, 12 and 21. Thom was also an international model working all over the U.S., Europe, Japan and Australia.
Tim and Thom McNamee
In 1978, they opened a bar in East Dundee with George Karas and named it Wallstreet, Inc. After Tim’s tragic death in 1987, Thom worked harder to continue their legacy of community action. Thom was always passionate about honoring his twin and giving back to the community he loved. He donated the Tim McNamee Park and canoe launch on the Fox River in memory of the many hours spent enjoying the outdoors.
Thom continued investing in the downtown area of East Dundee, purchasing and renovating several buildings on River Street, actively supporting local businesses through his revitalization of the River and Water Street areas. He purchased the historic Halfway House on the Fox River, remodeling it as a cozy Irish pub and renaming it Rosie O’Hare‘s after his grandmother.
Thom passed away in 2009 from cancer, but not before he donned his kilt one last time to march in the parade that ran between his two bars. In memory of Thom, the street on the North side of Bandito’s was renamed the Honorary Thom McNamee Way and the parade was renamed the Thom McNamee Memorial St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Family continues this commitment to the Fox Valley Area with the McNamee Family Foundation.