2012 Police Pals Food Drive                   

Open Letter to Bethel Park

 

On behalf of the Bethel Park Police Department I would like to publicly thank everyone who supported the Police Pals Food Drive as well as the Police Pals Adopt –A- Family project.  Both programs were very successful this past year and we were able to help a lot of families in Bethel Park.  The generosity shown was tremendous, and it further exemplifies the kind of Community Bethel Park is, “A truly generous, caring, and close community”.

The food drive was a little different this year, in its 20th year.  The Bethel Park Fire Department as well as Tri Community South EMS assisted in collecting monetary donations as well as food donations.  The result was over $3500 raised as well as over 65 well packed boxes of food.  Numerous volunteers also got involved this year in the collections and their efforts did not go unnoticed.  We had grade school students, middle school students, high school students,  young adults and senior citizens working together for one common goal: To help families in need in our own community.  The result was 266 boxes of food distributed as well as two bulk donations to SHIM and St. Winifred food pantry.   It is impossible to name every individual that assisted in this effort, but just know your time and efforts were deeply appreciated.  I want to thank 2 Men and a Truck on Valley Drive for donating the collection boxes as well as the distribution boxes.  I also want to thank Walmart and Shop N Save on Route 88 for allowing us to collect food and funds on two consecutive Saturdays in December.

 

The Adopt- A- Family also was very successful.  The original goal was to assist the same amount of families which we helped in 2011 which was 24.  But that total was easily surpassed!  The Adopt- A- Family was able to help 38 local Bethel Park families.  The generosity and genuine concern for fellow neighbors was overwhelming!  So many people called and emailed to offer their help in many different ways.  Some offered to adopt a family as a group or individually.  Some offered gift cards or children’s gifts, and some wrote a check!  There were many community leaders that contacted Chief Mackey and I, and asked how they could help.  Their efforts again did not go unnoticed.

 

The program is totally anonymous, but for the people who offered help in any way, I cannot thank you enough.  You certainly did make a difference right here in Bethel Park.  Thirty-eight families had a memorable Christmas because of all of your efforts.  You all exemplify the true meaning of Christmas, and I think collectively we all have shared in an accomplishment to very proud of.  I cannot publish any of the sponsor’s names, but please accept my thanks for helping make the Police Pals Adopt a Family such a huge success. 

 

I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank Chief Mackey for allowing these programs to be conducted and for his support for the programs.

 

 

Happy New Year,

Officer Tom Rigatti

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POLICE PALS VS STEELERS
(WATCH IT HERE - PART 1, PART 2)
POLICE PALS VS FIRE DEPARTMENT
BASKETBALL GAME 2013
(WATCH IT HERE)

 

                The pre-game between the Police Department and the Fire Department was the second basketball game to be played between the departments.  The final score was Police Department  53   Fire Department  42  . 

 

 

                The Police Pals and the Steelers played the annual charity basketball game on Friday, March 8, 2013.  The final score was Steelers 81 Police Pals 67 . The Steelers line-up included:

                                                          #16         Charlie Batch
                #29         Ryan Mundy     
                #38         Ross Ventrone 
                #68         Kelvin Beachum          
                #97        Cameron Heyward
                #83         Louis Lipps         

 

    Although the Steelers won the game, as always the event was a victory for the Police Pals Program.  The proceeds from the event will fund Police Pals Programs and the Bethel Park Police Association/Sgt. Charles Bonczek Scholarship Fund. The Police Pals Scholarship awarded yearly to a Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program (LEAP) student will be named in honor of Sgt. Bonczek and the game was dedicated in his memory.  The scholarship will be awarded to the Bethel Park Senior who has completed the Law Enforcement Apprenticeship Program and will attend college to pursue a law enforcement related degree.   On hand for the game were Sgt. Bonczek’s wife, Mary and daughter, Heather Bonczek Milharcic.            

    

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Rachel Salera
 

OFFICIALS

Dave PtasZkiewicz
Vince Pollaro
Jake Rubenstein
Matt Fowler
 

CLOCk
Tom Allman
 

DOOR
Elisa Perkins
Bill Vighetti
 

ANNOUNCER
Dave Lemley
 

CONCESSIONS
Kathy Rigatti
Mia Rigatti
Kris Polis
Anne DelDuca
Erin Tabai
Joy Gabbard
Antal Amaditz
Mary Bonczek
Andy Amrhein
 

RAFFLE SALES
Pam Rudolph
Bryan Rudolph

 

50-50 SALES
Gwen Steigner
Heather Petronio 
Michele Orsini

 

PHOTGRAPHY
Joe Mahr
Mike Reed
Channel 7 – Dave Cable

 

Academy of Podiatry – Dr. Snyder                                             Erin Perez -31 Gifts
Ben Franklin PTO                                                                     Evey “True Value” Hardware                    
Bethel Bakery                                                                          Family Deli
Bethel Park Boys Basketball                                                      Freddies II
Bethel Park Community Foundation                                           General Manufacturing
Bethel Park Channel #7                                                            Giant Eagle – Rt. -88
Bethel Park School District                                                        Giant Eagle Market District
Bethel Park Printing                                                                 Home & Office Consignment Gallery
Bethel Park Fire Department                                                     Iceoplex in Southpointe
Bethel Park Rotary                                                                   Jennings Chiropractic
BLVD Pub and Kitchen at Iceoplex                                            J & J Snack Foods
Brentwood Bank                                                                      Krista & Jeff Zehler
Brusters Ice cream                                                                  Metz Culinary Management
Buggy Bath Car Wash                                                               Miller “Ace” Hardware
Carmike Cinema SHV                                                               MM MM Pizza
Coca Cola Company                                                                 Officer Tom Rigatti and Family
Corner Brew                                                                           Pepsi Corporation
Crowne Plaza                                                                         Shop N Save
Dan & Michelle Cheberenchick                                                  TGI Friday’s Village Square
Dave Gambridge (Officials)                                                      Video Doc Productions
Dave Lemley (Announcing)                                                       Virgili's  Beer Distributor
DeLallo’s Restaurant                                                               WalMart
Dick’s Sporting Goods – SHV                                                    Wise Chips
Eat’N Park Corporation                                                            Judge Wyda & Staff
Eat’N Park – Rt. 88                                                             

Members of the Citizens Police Academy
Students from the L.E.A.P. program 
Others who wish to remain anonymous.

 

             

 

Congratulations to the winners of the Steeler Grill which was donated by Miller Ace Hardware on South Park Road:

                                                        Winner was: Kenneth Karako of Bethel Park