NJ Cops | Page 52

Are you ready for some Flash and Splash? The anticipation for the 2015 2015 Flash and Splash Flash and Splash in October is October 13-17 building. Law enforcement officers and firefighters make their Golf: Barefoot Golf and Resort way to Myrtle Beach, South CarNorth Myrtle Beach, South Carolina olina year-after-year to participate Hotel: Ocean Creek Resort in rounds of golf, fishing charters and socials, and, above all else, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina raise money for the most deservPackages: ing foundations. “It’s a great four days of not Golf: Four-night stay and four rounds of golf with carts at $699 per person only camaraderie but raising money for a worthy cause,” noted Fishing: Four-night stay and three Ewing Local 111 State Delegate days of Gulf Stream off-shore fishing, Michael Pellegrino, who is planning to attend the growing event food and beer at $699 per person Non-sport package: Four-night stay for the fifth year in a row. The Where Angels Play Founand all activities at $499 per person dation is sponsoring this year’s Reservations: Sabrina at Ocean Creek Flash and Splash to raise money for the individual foundations Resort 843-272-9603 that have been set up in honor of Information: Mary Kate 732-407-5237 each victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre in 2012. In 2007, former New Jersey State FMBA President Bill Lavin and Executive Vice-President Bob Brower organized the first Flash and Splash benefit and donated funds to the injured firefighters from one of the deadliest blazes in history in Charleston, South Carolina that claimed nine lives and injured dozens more. “Police and firefighters work to keep children and families safe,” continued Lavin. “When tragedy strikes families it’s a failure of the system and this is a cathartic way for us to support those who have suffered.” Each year, the New Jersey State PBA donates $10,000 to the fundraiser and what started as a firefighters’ event has grown into a joint effort from both 52 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JUNE 2015 Top photo: Ewing Local 111 State Delegate Michael Pellegrino (third from right) with FMBA members at the Flash and Splash event. Insert: Flash and Splash leaders present a check to Eden Autism Services. associations. “We started with four or five guys from the PBA and we’re trying to make it bigger,” explained Pellegrino. “We’re looking for more support from members and Locals either with sponsorship or golfers to support this endeavor.” Over the course of the benefit’s eight-year history, thousands of dollars have been raised for organizations such as Save the Children, Autism Speaks, Eden Autism Services, Autism NJ and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. “We feel the need to try and heal them the best way we can and it heals the first responder in us as well,” said Lavin. “It’s a selfish thing because we feel so good as we continue to support communities, it’s just the way police officers and firefighters are built.” d