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THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN® FOR
SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW JERSEY
FACT SHEET |
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The mission of The Law Enforcement Torch Run®
is to raise dollars and awareness of the
Special Olympics movement worldwide. |
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The Law Enforcement involvement with Special
Olympics New Jersey began in 1982
when Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officer Stephen
Vitale was asked to
photograph a local Special Olympics competition. Vitale was so moved
by the athletes and
their determination that he encouraged other officers to volunteer
their time. From that
flicker of interest, a legion of Law Enforcement support was ignited
and today, the Law
Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey is a
year-round “Champion”
sponsor. |
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In 1984, the first New Jersey Torch Run was
conceived to raise funds and awareness for
the Special Olympics program. Today the Torch Run travels 950 miles,
originating in 27
separate points statewide, and travels through 384 communities, with
some 2,700 officers
from all branches of law enforcement participating. The final leg
runs into Lion’s Stadium
to The College of New Jersey and lights the caldron for the Opening
Ceremony of the
Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games. |
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The New Jersey branch of the volunteer organization,
headed by a team of 50 Torch
Run committee members, raises funds through programs that vary from
two Polar Plunges,
Motorcycle Run, Lincoln Tunnel Challenge Run/Walk, the Adopt-A-Cop
Torch Run
Program, Plane Pull, Golf Tournaments and an ever expanding menu of
fundraising
initiatives. |
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In 2007, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special
Olympics New Jersey was named second highest grossing funraising program of its kind in the world. Last year alone,
this group raised a
record breaking $2,043,162. |
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3 Princess Road
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
(609)896-8000 / (609)896-8040 fax
www.sonj.org / 
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