Granted
State Corrections Local 105 helps make a dream come true
n BY AMBER RAMUNDO
Sometimes, it takes an unfortunate circumstance to find
how far the thin blue line stretches. For Scott Marshall, a State
Corrections Local 105 member, it took the birth of his twin sons.
Scott has worked at the Avenel Adult Diagnostic and Treat-
ment Center since 2000. When he became a father to Ryan and
Joshua on June 12, 2010 — and it was learned that Ryan had a
serious heart defect — he realized the support that those he
worked with were capable of providing.
Having had to put their young son through multiple open-
heart surgeries, Scott and his wife Sandra quickly became ad-
vocates for the Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) Coalition. The
complications and hardships of having a child with such a seri-
ous condition was difficult, but from the very beginning, Scott
found out that his family was not alone in the fight.
It started with the support of Local 105 member Jerry Maple,
who worked with Scott for years in corrections. Maple made
his commitment to the cause known each year, when he joined
Scott and his family as they participated in the CHD Awareness
Walk to raise awareness and funds for lifesaving research.
“Jerry has come to the walk ever since we started [five years
ago],” Scott says. “He has never missed a walk for my son.”
Eventually, Ryan’s story spread to the Local 105 executive
board, and they too started to contribute to the cause by send-
ing donations to the CHD Awareness Walk on behalf of Local
105 each year.
When Sandra found out that her son was eligible for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation, she decided to share his story. In Oc-
tober, Ryan found out that his wish had been granted and his
family would be going to the promised land for a child: Disney
World. Overjoyed by the generosity of this charitable organiza-
tion, the family decided that this year, they would participate in
the 2018 Walk for Wishes in Monroe Township. Of course, Maple
marked his calendar for the walk as well.
Representation of the Local 105 family at the Make-A-Wish
event increased when Scott met Local 105 Executive Vice Pres-
ident William Sullivan and told him about his young warrior,
whose wish had just been granted. Sullivan asked for details
about the walk and promised that Local 105 would be there.
“He said that [Local 105] wanted to be there for my son,” Scott
recalls. “The PBA really cares about their officers and they have
gone above and beyond, especially for my son.”
On Oct. 14, the attendance of Scott’s law enforcement family
at the walk was impossible to miss, as the Local 105 bus was
parked prominently outside the Make-A-Wish castle. The mem-
bers also set up a concession stand and fueled a crowd of hun-
dreds with beverages, snacks and sticker badges.
“They weren’t just there to be there,” says Sandra. “They were
there because they cared.”
Members toured the castle while Ryan, Joshua and other chil-
dren enjoyed the amenities of the Local 105 bus, playing video
games and watching movies. The support efforts of Local 105
certainly created a highlight for 8-year-old Ryan, just 72 hours
before leaving for the trip that would grant his wish. It was also
an unforgettable experience for members like Sullivan.
“Out of all the events we have done, this was the most ful-
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ NOVEMBER 2018
filling event I’ve participated in,” shares Sullivan, who attended
with his young son and expectant wife. “To see the joy that the
Make-A-Wish Foundation brought to Scott’s family was unbe-
lievable.”
Scott could hardly believe the lengths that Local 105 went
to be there for his son, especially Local 105 State Delegate Ray
Heck, who took a red-eye flight across the country to ensure
that he was present. The family had not even made it to Disney
World yet, but with the help of Local 105, Scott felt like his son’s
dream had already come true.
“I’m speechless by what the union has done for my son,” Scott
stresses. “These guys are top-notch.”