Newtown Turkey Trot Raises $20K For Bucks Co. Heroes Scholarship Fund

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Members of the Newtown Borough Police Department gathered at the Temperance House recently to present a check for $20,000 to the Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children of emergency responders killed in the line of duty

The funds were raised during the police department's first-ever Turkey Trot, which drew 600 runners to the streets of Newtown on Thanksgiving morning and raised an amazing $20,000 in memory of Newtown Borough Police Officer Brian Gregg, who was killed in the line of duty 20 years ago.

On hand to accept the check was Rich Vona, the treasurer of the nonprofit scholarship organization.

"This event means the world to us," said Vona, who thanked the Newtown Borough Police Department and Newtown-based BOSS Events for teaming up to make the event happen.

"This will allow us to further the scholarships we're able to provide to children of the emergency services," said Vona. "We raise an awful lot of money and we hope we never have to spend it because if we spend it, that means there was a tragedy."

Newtown Borough Police Sgt. Sean Orr and Carly (Seiler-Bovell) of Boss Events joined members of the police department in making the presentation.

Taking part in the check presentation are, from left, Chris Seiler, owner of Boss Events; Newtown Borough Police Officer Chuck Gorski; Dr. Lori Gerber of Refresh Integrative Medicine & Aesthetics; Rich Vona, treasurer, Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund; Newtown Borough Police Sgt. Sean Orr; Carly Seiler-Bovell, Boss Events; Jason Dowd, Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund; Newtown Borough Police Officers Tiffany Winik and Dylan Maddux; and Dave Shallcross, Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund.

"It feels good to give them a $20,000 check," said Orr, who credited the success of the event to the show of support from event sponsors and the community.

"It was overwhelming," said Orr, "from the sponsorships we received, to the 600 runners who participated, to the people who continuously emailed us hoping for an opening."

Orr said with the 20th anniversary of Gregg’s death this year, the department wanted to do something that would carry on his legacy.

“I’m not an event planner so I talked with Carly with Boss Events and she came up with the idea of a 5K. She suggested a Christmas-themed event, but I wanted something closer to the anniversary. Then it hit me. Thanksgiving Day. Stores are closed. There would be less impact on the community,” he said.

Orr said even before they started registration, in what he says felt like "a blink of an eye," they raised $1,200 in race sponsorships.

Orr said they didn't have a goal in mind when they started planning the event. "I said anything over $1 would be enough, so $20,000 is spectacular," he said. "And for us to raise $20,0000 on the 20th anniversary of Brian's death, it's pretty remarkable. It feels good to have the support of the local community. Everyone had a great time. Hopefully, next year we can do something even bigger and give more people a chance to participate."

Dr. Lori Gerber, who signed on as the event's first sponsor, couldn't say enough about the event and giving back to the community that supported her as she grew up and then entered the business world.

"I grew up here, and I wanted to give back to the community that I have invested my entire life into," said Gerber, who owns Fresh Integrated Medicine and Dr. Lori Integrated Telehealth and Wellness. "People believed enough in me to support me when I went to school. Now I'm able to have a company and a business here locally, and I can pay that back."

Gerber also liked how the event brought the community together. "It feels so good to me," she said. "And to be a part of this, which was much bigger than we thought it was going to be, was a great opportunity to give back."

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