2015 East Coast Lady Trooper Charity Softball Tournament

The Delaware State Police along with eight other states (Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina)throughout the east coast have distinguished themselves well with this year’s softball tournament and fundraiser. All teams have come together to play softball and demonstrate dedication to the communities they serve. This year the East Coast Lady Troopers have done an excellent job and raised $19,000.00. This will allow the Special Olympics of Delaware and Camp Barnes to receive $9,500.00 each. Everyone who participated in this year's annual charity event showed enormous support for two very significant and meaningful causes. The tremendous success was attributed to the spirit of good friendship and loyalty among fellow Troopers from other states working to raise money for local charities.

The Delaware State Police would like to thank everyone for a great tournament! Without the below sponsors and strong community support we could not have had this much success. Thank you!

Delmarva Power
Matt Haley’s Global Delaware Fund
Sports at the Beach
Delaware State Troopers Association
Jimmy’s Grill
16 Mile Brewery
Margarita Man
Commissioner Robert C. Coupe, Delaware Department of Corrections

“Thank you all for your excellent representation of the State and the Delaware State Police. This event was more than a Charity Softball Tournament; it was reflective of the many ways that law enforcement continues to be actively involved in our communities. Most of all thank you to our Troopers for representing the State in extraordinary fashion. We are all proud of your accomplishment. Congratulations!”

Colonel Nathaniel McQueen, Jr.
Superintendent of the Delaware State Police

"The event filled weekend hosted by the Delaware State Police allowed us to accomplish our fundraising goal. Without the support of several individuals, many organizations, law enforcement agencies and the communities throughout the state this would not have been possible. I would like to thank all those involved on behalf of the Delaware State Police Women Softball Teams for a wonderful event. The support from our fellow troopers and the community helped support these amazing charities, Special Olympics of Delaware and The Delaware State Police -Camp Barnes."

Captain Melissa Hukill
Delaware State Police

During the opening ceremony Master Corporal Chris Popp and his son Brendan threw out the first pitch. (pictures attached)

Released: 100615 1631


**Original Press Release**
2015 East Coast Lady Trooper Charity Softball Tournament
The 14th Annual East Coast Lady Trooper Charity Softball Tournament will be hosted by the Delaware State Police. This two day event will take place at the Sports at the Beach Complex located at 22518 Lewes-Georgetown Highway, Georgetown, DE 19947, east of Georgetown, on September 19th and 20th 2015.

This annual charity event solicits the support of female State Troopers along the east coast to raise money to support local charities. The purpose of this softball tournament is to bring several different state agencies together for a common goal of helping others. Each year the hosting state donates the tournament proceeds to local charities.

The charities chosen this year are Camp Barnes and the Special Olympics of Delaware. Camp Barnes originally opened in 1948 to combat juvenile delinquency. The camp was named in recognition of Col. Herbert A. Barnes, who was the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police at the time of the camp's inception and was instrumental in raising the necessary funds and volunteer work needed to make Camp Barnes a success. The camp's operating budget exceeds $200,000 per year, and all of the funds are from donations and fundraisers. For eight weeks during the summer, 60 youths per week - ages 10 to 13 - attend Camp Barnes with no financial burden on parents or guardians. In addition to the above, Special Olympics of Delaware, the Delaware Burn Camp Foundation, the City of Wilmington and the Delaware 4H utilize Camp Barnes.

Special Olympics Delaware provides a year-round program of quality sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and/or cognitive delays. A family of over 4,000 volunteers makes this program possible for the more than 3,500 athletes who compete in Special Olympics Delaware. The organization builds sports skills, confidence, strength, motivation and self-esteem ... not just for the athletes, but for everyone involved.

In the 13 year history of this event, the tournaments have raised over $100,000.00 for the supported charities. It has grown to include teams from nine states (Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina and Delaware) throughout the east coast and the Delaware State Police have hosted the tournament twice. Please join these Troopers to reach our goal of raising $15,000.00 for Camp Barnes and the Special Olympics of Delaware. If you are interested in supporting this great cause, you are welcome to donate (please make checks payable to Pipes & Drums of the First State, Inc., a 501(c)3) or come out to watch the games. The Delaware State Police is proud to support these charities and our community. We have assembled two teams to play in the tournament this year and obtained corporate donations from major supporters in the First State, but would appreciate all the support possible from the citizens of this great state.