EAST BRUNSWICK One touchdown at a time, the East Brunswick High School (EBHS) football team helped the East Brunswick Police Department (EBPD) raise money for breast cancer awareness.
The EBHS varsity football team scored 13 touchdowns during October, so the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Local 98 and the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 145 each donated $1,300 for a total of $2,600, according to Police Capt. Kevin Zebro.
“Capt. Joseph Alves, a member of the FOP, brought up the idea to donate $100 for each touchdown scored during the month of October by the EBHS varsity football team. The union approved the idea and I approached the PBA to see if they wanted to join forces and double the donation,” Zebro said. “They agreed immediately for the worthy cause. Having had family members of the police department affected by breast cancer, we could not think of a better way to support our brothers and sisters and our community.”
All proceeds were donated to the SFK Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, according to Zebro.
The SFK Foundation was founded in 2013 and it is a non-profit organization that raises money to help end the fight against breast cancer, according to the foundation’s Founder and President Jill Kinslow.
“I personally started the foundation after my mother received her second diagnosis of breast cancer. All proceeds are donated to various local organizations that are directly related to the fight against breast cancer,” Kinslow said.
Zebro said the department was looking for a worthy organization to donate to and wanted to choose a organization that would directly benefit the fight against breast cancer.
“I spoke to the athletic trainer at the high school, Lori Mutch, who told me about the SFK Foundation. She is friends with the founder, Jill Kinslow, and is involved with the organization,” Zebro said. “Mutch spoke very highly of the organization and all the good work that they do. It was clear from our conversation that this was the right organization for the police unions. Lt. Frank LoSacco, president of the FOP, and Ptl. Glenn Tabasko, president of the PBA, agreed and we decided to donate to the SFK Foundation.”
Kinslow said she was excited when she first heard about the police department teaming up with the football team.
“This was the first time something like this has been done for the foundation and I think it was a great way to bring the community and people of all ages together during Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” Kinslow said. “I’d like to thank Lori Mutch, EBHS athletic trainer, for making this all possible. And a big thank you to the players and coaches of EBHS and to the East Brunswick PBA and FOP for their very generous donation.”
EBHS Head Football Coach Bob Molarz said that the football team was honored to cooperate with the EBPD in their generous donation to the SFK Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.
“I actually found out about the opportunity through our booster club president on Oct. 1 and eventually, Officer Kevin Zebro and [I] thought it was a great idea for a tremendous cause. Our team promotes Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink during our games and this seemed like a more meaningful way to contribute,” Molarz said.
“I told only the captains about our commitment to the campaign and they were excited. I have a personal investment as my wife Kim is a breast cancer survivor, so we were all in. The team responded with 13 total varsity touchdowns during the month of October, our best offensive output of the year. The fact that we helped raise $2,600 was very satisfying,” he said.
Zebro said he expects the police department to continue this type of collaborative effort, with the unions’ approval.
“I thought it was a great opportunity for the police department’s two unions to come together with the football team for such a worthy cause. Breast cancer affects everyone and being able to work in conjunction with the high school football team was a great opportunity to join forces and come together to help in fighting this nasty, terrible, disease,” Zebro said. “Our unions work hard to raise money for various charities and the football team works hard on the gridiron – what better way to use both of our missions to fight breast cancer?”
For more information about the SFK Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, visit www.sfkfoundation.com/my-story.html.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
