The Special Olympics Torch has become one of the most colorful aspects of Special Olympics New Jersey Opening Ceremonies. There is little in the Summer Games that compares to the anticipation that fills the stadium as spectators and athletes await the appearance of the Torch to officially open the Games.

In 1982, the late Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Officer Steven Vitale was asked to take photos at a local Special Olympics competition in New Jersey. He was so moved by the determination exhibited by the athletes that he asked other police officers to volunteer at the Summer Games. Over the years the number of Law Enforcement volunteers has increased to such an extent that today, New Jersey Law Enforcement officers are committed to Special Olympics on a year-round basis. As Law Enforcement participation grew, the decision was made to become a premier sponsor in fundraising. In 1984, the first New Jersey Torch Run was conceived to raise funds and public awareness for the Special Olympics program. The course ran from Liberty State Park in Jersey City to Rutgers Stadium in New Brunswick. In this first run, Law Enforcement officers from various Police Departments ran through eight towns covering 43 miles and raised $7,000. In each succeeding year, the dollar amount became greater and the number of volunteers increased substantially. In 2007, 27 Torch Runs were held throughout the state, in a single day, covering more than 900 miles. Over 2,700 Law Enforcement officers, from hundreds of agencies, participated as runners or support staff through more than 384 communities.

All Torch Run activities are the responsibility of the Law Enforcement Torch Run State Committee, including the coordination of the Torch Run itself. Members are responsible for organizing all aspects of the run, including visiting Law Enforcement agencies to recruit runners and support staff , planning the routes, estimating the arrival time of the Torch through various towns, and providing refreshments and commemorative T-shirts for the runners. The committee, as a team, has developed an Adopt-A-Cop program, and the Torch Run journal, by which additional funds are raised to support Special Olympics New Jersey in the name of the Torch Run. Letters and donation forms are distributed to more than 5,000 businesses throughout the state asking employees and employers to “Adopt-A-Cop” or to purchase a journal ad for the run. Run coordinators also are responsible for distributing posters and Torch-for-$1 cards to local Law Enforcement officers, who then distribute them to local public agencies in their communities.

In addition, the Torch Run State Committee coordinates volunteer efforts by all Law Enforcement officers at the Special Olympics Summer and Winter Games. Uniformed officers are the official awards presenters for the athletes. Other officers assist volunteers from ShopRite and Knights of Columbus with the provision of meals for athletes, coaches and volunteers at the Games. More than 9,000 meals were prepared and served by Law Enforcement officers and other volunteers this past year.

Through their dedication and commitment, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey has developed into a “Champion” year-round sponsor that involves thousands of New Jersey’s Law Enforcement officers, countless members of the community, and hundreds of major corporations and small businesses. Additional fundraisers are held throughout the year, such as the Lincoln Tunnel Challenge Fun Run/Walk, the Polar Bear Plunge, the Law Enforcement Golf Classic, the Continental Airlines Plane Pull and an ever-expanding menu of fundraising initiatives.

In 2007, this level of dedication earned the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey the highly esteemed position of number one in the world for the fourth consecutive year for the highest grossing fundraising program of it’s kind. Last year alone, this group raised a record breaking $2,043,162.