In a letter to the editor, Pam O’Donnell, the head of the Bayonne-based Catch You Later Foundation, LLC who lost her husband and daughter to a car accident in March, thanks everyone who helped make the organization’s first event a success.
Dear editor,
The Catch You Later Foundation, LLC would like to thank everyone who came out on an incredibly hot day to participate in the first scholarship softball game fundraiser held in memory of Tim and Bridget O’Donnell who were tragically killed earlier this year.
While the temperature was high, it did not stop folks from coming out and supporting our cause of raising awareness to make that potential lifesaving call and raising funds to send two senior high school students to college with a scholarship.
Thank you to Bayonne Little League for hosting us, thank you Johnny Vaccaro, Ray Spengler, Roger Malone, Gene Klump, Mike Lynch and a special shout out to Melissa McKittrick who spent the entire day manning the refreshment stand.
The day would not have gotten started without our very own Bayonne native Kevin O’Connor from CBS’ The Amazing Race and The Discovery Channel who emceed the event and started the program off with introducing Elvia Ferraira, former student of Tim O’Donnell’s who belted out a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.
We cannot thank St. Anthony’s High School Basketball Coach Bob Hurley and his family enough for coming out and spending time with the kids, giving them some special basketball pointers during his mini clinic.
Thank you to former NY Giant Bart Oates for coming down and signing autographs, taking pictures and allowing people to try on his two Super Bowl Rings.
Special thanks to our sponsors, The Riu All Inclusive Hotel Chain, Crafty Fox Studio, BCB Bayonne Community Bank, Hudacko’s Pharmacy, Mortgage Plus, McCabe Ambulance, Cresci Law Firm, Famous Furs, CarePoint Health. Thank you to Dana McCarthy of Princess and a Pumpkin, Jillian Flores of Jill’s Bows, Lisa Matir of Perfectly Posh, Corkie Lisy of Corkies Creations all the way from Ohio, Kuhl’s Tavern, Reese’s Hair Pieces’, The Big Apple Sports Palace, Denise of Kouvel Insurance Associates, Vital Signs, A Plus Custom Screen Printing, Star DJ’s, Party Maniacs, LA Inflatables, Erica at Magical Princess, Bayonne Elks Lodge 434, Alex of 34 th Sabrett Hot Dog, Kuhl’s Tavern, The NJ Devils, and the NY Giants.
To Barbara Kuzminski of The NJ Sharing Network and Nina Nelson at Crafty Fox Studios, thank you just seems inadequate for all you have done not only have you been an integral part of the event but we thank you for your friendship and never wavering support of our cause.
To the two softball teams that consisted of former students, softball players, friends, and family, thank you! The game itself was very much what Coach O’Donnell had always believed in; having fun on the field, friendly competition and sportsmanship.
A great honor it was to both Coach O’Donnell and our daughter Bridget.
There truly are no words to adequately thank everyone appropriately. The City of Bayonne and the citizens, the local businesses; the event was only successful because of you. To the many volunteers and the CYLF Committee who have worked tirelessly and effortlessly the past few months to pull this event off, Thank you!
With this all said and done, the message of the Catch You Later Foundation is ongoing. If you see someone on the road that you think could be a potential danger; please do make that potential lifesaving call, call 911, call the NJ State Aggressive Driving Program by dialing #77. It only takes one phone call to save a life.
Our fundraising efforts are not over, if anyone would like to make a donation please go to www.catchyoulater.org. If you are interested in the scholarship please do email catchyou2later@outlook.com for more information.
The scholarship application can be downloaded at www.catchyoulater.org and applications are being accepted through August 15, 2016.
The first scholarship will be awarded to a Bayonne resident 2016 High School graduate who attended any Hudson County area high school and the 2nd scholarship will be awarded to a 2016 graduate of County Prep High School.
If you have any questions, please do contact us at 201-443- 2844.
Thank you,
Pam O’Donnell
Catch You Later Foundation, LLC
