Achieving the goal
PBA hockey team continues to give back by delivering
toys to Jersey Shore Hospital
Besides being known as a group of dedicated athletes and of-
ficers, what PBA members have come to love about its hockey
team is the way it keeps giving back to the community.
On August 7, members of the team visited Jersey Shore Uni-
versity Hospital to hand out toys to children. Team members
making the trip included Mike Schulze and Dan Tacopino from
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office Local 314 and Brian Oeckel
from State Corrections Local 105.
They also had a helping hand from a very special girl with
a very special organization: Daniela Olt of Daniela’s Wish, a
non-profit organization that grants wishes to sick children in
need, helped to organize a toy drive for the children. Olt, Schul-
ze, Tacopino and Oeckel visited several children and brought
them with more $1,200 worth of gifts.
The four visited one child in particular, whose day got a
whole lot better when they walked in the room. Anthony Puz-
zo and his parents had been in the at the hospital for two days
when his spirits were getting low.
But suddenly, he was showered with toys such as Playdoh,
Star Wars characters, Superman coloring books and a life-sized
Ninja Turtle.
“It’s tough for a little kid to be stuck in bed all day,” Schulze
explained. “I get that, and that’s why we do it.”
From left to right, Daniela Olt, Mike Schulze, Anthony Puzzo, Dan Tacopino
and Brian Oeckel
From left to right, Dan Tacopino, Mike Schulze, Brian Oeckel, Daniela Olt
with a member of Daniela’s Wish
Not only did team members bring something for the chil-
dren, but they brought something for the parents as well. A lo-
cal pizzeria in Neptune City donated $250 worth of gift cards,
and they were able to give out 10 $25 gift cards.
For Schulze and his teammates, this topped any feeling of
scoring a goal in the final seconds of a hockey game or catching
a criminal.
“I’ve been doing this for 18 or 19 years, and this was probably
one of the best days of my career,” Schulze exclaimed with joy.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2017