Let them play
NJSPBA Beefsteak Dinner makes groundbreaking contribution to Mallory’s Army Playground
■ BY AMBER RAMUNDO
A hockey game; an NJSPBA Mini Con-
vention; a challenge coin; a documentary
film; and soon, a playground.
There are many pieces to the story of
how Mallory’s Army has blossomed into
a focal point within the NJ State PBA, ever
since members were introduced to the
Grossman family nearly two years ago.
But on March 12, the many chapters of
the Mallory’s Army partnership, friendship
and bond with law enforcement came to-
gether under one roof at the NJSPBA Beef-
steak Dinner to benefit the Mallory’s Army
Playground.
“We’ve had a lot of worthy causes this
year in play,” NJ State PBA President Pat
Colligan shared with the crowd. “We just
happened to develop a special relation-
ship with the Grossmans. When [Dianne
Grossman] speaks later, you’ll see why she
got everyone’s attention very quickly.”
Most of the people gathered at the
Brownstone in Paterson were well ac-
quainted with the impact of Grossman’s
storytelling that Colligan referenced. Di-
anne and Seth Grossman’s display of open-
ness, honesty and heart while sharing the
gut-wrenching details of how bullying led
their 12-year-old daughter, Mallory, to take
her own life is the reason so many of the
guests present that night initially jumped
on board with Mallory’s Army. It’s why they
continue to find ways to show the Gross-
mans that the PBA stands with them.
Among those moved by Mallory’s story
was former FMBA president and founder
of the Where Angels Play Foundation Bill
Lavin. It was a match made in PBA heav-
en when Colligan introduced Lavin to the
Grossmans, and a no-brainer that a play-
ground dedicated to Mallory at the fam-
ily’s favorite campground in Saugerties,
N.Y., would be the next Where Angels Play
project.
“I’ve worked with a lot of firefighters
and plenty of cops,” Lavin shared. “But
this is going to be uniquely a PBA project.
We want to get people excited about it here
tonight.”
Anticipation for the Mallory’s Army
Playground grew throughout the evening,
as the audience was given the opportuni-
ty to get to know Mallory on a deeper lev-
el via a sneak peek at the Mallory’s Army
documentary film, which was fully funded
From left, NJSPBA President Pat Colligan, Somerville Local 147 State Delegate Vittorio Spadea, Dianne
Grossman, Seth Grossman, Carlee Grossman, NJSPBA Executive Vice President Marc Kovar, Dunellen
Local 146 State Delegate Joe Dudley, Berkeley Heights Local 144 State Delegate Patrick Moran and
Where Angels Play Foundation founder Bill Lavin at the NJSPBA Beefsteak Dinner for the Mallory’s
Army Playground.
The Grossman family presents Bill Lavin with a
personalized plaque to thank the Where Angels
Play Foundation for building the Mallory’s Army
Playground.
by PBA contributions.
“Here, to date, the PBA has raised more
than $40,000 for Mallory’s Army,” Dianne
Grossman stated, still in disbelief about
the sizable amount. “During one of my
nights, which are often sleepless, I decided
we’re going to make a documentary to film
this journey that will reach all of the chil-
dren in the country.”
One of the many generous PBA contri-
butions came from the Middlesex-Som-
erset County Conference and a group of
members who carried out a prosperous
fundraising project from a creative vision.
“[Dianne] is a saint when I think about
it, not just because of what she’s going
through, but also the message that she is
spreading,” noted Vittorio Spadea, Somer-
ville Local 147 State Delegate and chair
of the NJSPBA Sports and Special Events
Committee. After meeting Dianne for the
first time, Spadea and Dunellen Local 146
The offi cial Mallory’s Army Challenge Coin, de-
signed by the Middlesex-Somerset County Con-
ference.
State Delegate Joe Dudley immediately
sprang into action to design the Mallory’s
Army Challenge Coin, with all proceeds
going to the cause.
Bolstered by the kindheartedness and
support generated at the beefsteak din-
ner, Dianne is anticipating June’s arrival,
when the Where Angels Play Foundation
will break ground on the Mallory’s Army
Playground. It will be the first time that she
has looked forward to the month of June in
two years — since her youngest daughter
passed away on June 14, 2017.
“I can’t express enough what the PBA
and all of the officers have done for us,”
she extolled. “They not only validate us as
a foundation, but they give us the energy
to keep moving and keep doing. I nev-
er thought that I would look forward to
something in a long time. To know that I’m
going to look forward to this feels good...it
feels natural.”
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ MARCH 2019 67