2016 NJ State PBA Mini Convention
Shortly after members heard the
moving PEER Liaison presentation
Michael Boll
about 19 law enforcement officers
Union Local 69
who committed suicide, Union Local
69 former State Delegate Michael Boll
stood up to talk about another group
of heroes suffering the same horrifying
statistic.
“Twenty-plus (military) veterans kill
themselves every day (across the U.S.),”
he stated. “At Operation Rebound, if a
person needs help, we have three or
four people to help him train.”
Challenged Athletes Foundation’s
Operation Rebound is a sports and
fitness program for American military
personnel, veterans and first responders with physical challenges. It provides opportunities to pursue active, athletic lifestyles by
offering access to funding for equipment and training and competition expenses, Military
Medical Center Physical Training and sports clinics.
Since the NJSPBA’s first introduction to Operation Rebound at the May State Delegates
meeting, the team has grown from 30 to 150 members, 40 with PTSD and 40 who are physically disabled.
“We’ve been hosting numerous runs and rides, we’ve acquired 14 hand-cycles and competition wheelchairs and sponsors have given us all the necessary equipment for our new
offices,” Boll acknowledged. “And we have a Sept. 11 ride from the Memorial in NYC to
Walter Reed in Washington, D.C. where we will be providing patients with specialized athletic
equipment and a comedy show.”
For more information and to get involved, PBA members should contact Boll by emailing
[email protected].
OPERATION REBOUND
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ APRIL 2016
SURVIVOR & WELFARE DONATION
State Delegate Glenn Tuchek
Bergen County Local 102
What’s the number?
For 14 years running, the members of Local 102 have
been coming to the Mini Convention to donate the proceeds from its annual Cigar Night to the Survivor & Welfare Fund. And there has always been a touch of drama
waiting for the announcement of how much has been
raised from the event.
It’s an annual five-figure contribution from what President Pat Colligan, the PBA’s resident cigar aficionado,
described as an evening not to be missed.
Member Joe Eppe started Cigar Night following 9-11,
and it’s become a huge success in large part due to the
support of P.C. Richard & Son. Eppe stepped up to the
podium to share, “We were a little light this year.”
Local 102 State Delegate Glenn Tuchek then followed
by saying, “I’m happy to report that with this year’s money, we’ve raised more than $300,000 in 14 years.”
With
that,
Tuchek, Eppe
and the group
presented
a
check to Colligan for $15,000
raised from Cigar Night 2016.