Woodland Park Councilwoman and founder of
the charity softball tournament, Tracy Kellert,
hands the trophy to the winning PBA softball
team.
the charity softball game has been
dedicated to specific families in New
Jersey who have lost a loved one during
the year. This time, the sporting event
was dedicated to Jersey City Lieutenant
Christopher Robateau, who lost his life
on Jan. 5 in a deadly off-duty car crash.
Multiple PBA Locals were repre-
sented in the tournament, including
Paterson Local 1, Passaic City 14, Bel-
leville Local 28, Bloomfield Local 32,
Montclair Local 53, Verona Local 72,
Totowa Local 80, Woodland Park Local
173, Passaic County Corrections Local
197, Passaic County Prosecutors Office
Local 265 and Passaic County Sheriff’s
Officers Local 286.
The proceeds collected from spon-
sors, tricky-tray raffle tickets, conces-
sion stands, T-shirt sales and other
donations raised a total of $7,500 for
the Survivor and Welfare Fund and an
additional $3,000 for Robateau’s family
members, who were also present at the
Woodland Park Memorial Field for the
tournament.
The Families Behind the Badge Char-
ity Softball Tournament also gained
recognition from the New York Jets
football team, which decided it wanted
to do its part in giving back to survivors.
Thanks to the charity softball game ef-
forts, the Jets offered the Families Be-
hind the Badge participants in addi-
tion to other law enforcement officers
discounted tickets to the Oct. 14 game
against the Indianapolis Colts. For each
$30 ticket purchased, the Jets vowed to
donate $10 to the Survivor and Welfare
Fund to continue the outreach of sup-
port to the families of those who made
the ultimate sacrifice. d
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