#BRIDGEPORT, CT – Dec. 16, 2013– The Bridgeport Police Explorers continue to give back to the community – with the assistance of a corporate partner looking to do the same.
On Monday, Wheelabrator Bridgeport, the waste management trash-to-energy plant, donated a combined $7,000 to two Bridgeport charities and the police youth organization that helped choose them.
The Bridgeport Police Explorers received a $2,333 donation. Two non profits, Daughters of Charity and Champions Mentoring Program, received the same amount.
“I want to thank Wheelabrator for this gift. I’m so impressed by the work of the young men and women in the Explorers, and the Daughters of Charity and Champions Mentoring are such important partners in helping people in need,” said Mayor Bill Finch.
Geraldo Rullan, 17, a leader in the Explorers, is the son of a longtime Wheelabrator employee.
Wheelabrator Bridgeport serves with police departments around the state to incinerate confiscated drugs and sensitive documents, and last year the company decided to donate all fees from police to charity, said Glenn Lockhart, the plant manager.
When the Explorers toured the plant last year, the staff was so impressed that they gave the Explorers an assignment to pick two charities. The criteria were that the charities should serve “at-risk youth” and that the majority of money goes directly to services.
“We wanted to do something meaningful for the Bridgeport community and we asked for the help of the Explorers,” said Lockhart. “They could not have chosen two more worthy groups. For that effort and their community work, we believed the Explorers earned our support as well.”
Champions Mentoring Program matches Bridgeport children, ages 9 through 13, who have one or both parents currently incarcerated, with adult mentors.
The Daughters of Charity is a rescue mission that ministers to needy people in Bridgeport. While trying to meet the immediate needs of clients for food, clothing, child care and furnishings, the charity also tries to tackle the underlying causes of poverty so that people can become self-sufficient.
“I am always impressed by the character and self-motivation of our Explorers,” said Police Chief Joseph L. Gaudett Jr. “I’m also impressed by the dedication of our officers who work with these young men and women. I would be remiss if I didn’t express my gratitude to Capt. Robert Sapiro and the rest of our officers who work so closely with this outstanding group.”
The Explorers program has about 43 members who range in age from 14 to 20 with a focus on the vocation of law enforcement and community service.