Bradley Beach Police show support for Special Olympics New Jersey
About The Torch Run
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey is a statewide campaign coordinated and managed by all divisions of Law Enforcement officers and officials from throughout the state. Through their efforts, events are conducted year round by the Law Enforcement Community to raise funds for the Special Olympics Movement, serving the athletes of New Jersey. In addition to fundraising, Law Enforcement volunteer at athlete events year round while serving as ambassadors in local communities.
History
In 1982, the late Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officer Steven Vitale was asked to take photos at a local Special Olympics competition in New Jersey. He was so moved by the determination exhibited by the athletes that he asked other police officers to volunteer at the Summer Games. In 1984, the first New Jersey Torch Run was conceived to raise funds and public awareness for the Special Olympics New Jersey program. The course ran from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick through eight towns covering 43 miles and raising $7,000. In each succeeding year, the dollar amount became greater and the number of volunteers increased substantially. Today over $2M is raised annually by more than 3,000 officers through local and statewide events including the Law Enforcement Torch Run as part of the annual Summer Games in June.
Guardians Of The Flame
Each year dedicated Law Enforcement officers participate in a
journey on foot that brings
the Special Olympics New Jersey "Flame of
Hope" torch throughout the state.
Local business supporters, school
children, spectators and members of the local community
line the roads
to experience the excitement as they cheer on their local Law
Enforcement
Officers. The journey ends when the fiery torch ignites the
cauldron at the
Opening Ceremonies and officially opens the Summer
Games. New Jersey’s annual Torch Run
began in 1983 to raise awareness
and funds for the athletes of Special Olympics New Jersey.
"The Torch Run is the culmination of the many hours that members
of Law Enforcement
volunteer each year," according to Chief Robert
Belfiore, Port Authority of NY/NJ
and Director of the New Jersey Law
Enforcement Torch Run. "It is symbolic of the
commitment and dedication
that New Jersey Law Enforcement has for Special Olympics
athletes in
this state, and the camaraderie that has developed between Law
Enforcement
and Special Olympics athletes." Members of Law Enforcement
dedicate this run to the memory
of the 37 Port Authority Police officers
who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, many of whom
were long-time
supporters of Special Olympics New Jersey.
"The dedication of the Law Enforcement community to Special
Olympics New Jersey
is evident all year long, especially on the day of
Summer Games Opening Ceremonies,"
according to Marc S. Edenzon,
President of Special Olympics New Jersey.
"These committed friends
epitomize their loyalty to the thousands of athletes of the
Summer Games
by their hands-on involvement and tireless efforts to raise funds and
create awareness of Special Olympics, that success in life can be
sparked by
success on the playing field."
 The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has
been a major
sponsor of the organization since 1983. Their efforts are
the result of a volunteer
committee of more than 30 members who annually
coordinate the Torch Run, along
with the other fundraising events on
behalf of Special Olympics New Jersey.
Included in this dedicated group
are sponsors such as the New Jersey Policemen’s
Benevolent Association,
the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, the New Jersey
Knights of
Columbus, the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association,
Macy’s, the
ShopRite/Wakefern Corporation and the Italian American Police
Society of
New Jersey. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a part of an international
series of torch runs held in every state and in more than 36 countries
for Special Olympics.
For more information on the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey,
call (609)896-8000,
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Karin Marie Davis
Rosemary Eleanor (Matunis) Gluckow
Gabriel Young
Barbara A. Vandenberge