Event Benefits Families of Fallen Police Officers

To help financially support the family members of fallen police officers from Baltimore City, Baltimore City’s Cross Street Tobacco will hold “Lighting Up for a Cause.”

To be held from 10 am – 10 pm on Saturday, May 21, at Cross Street Tobacco (1103 Light Street in Federal Hill), “Lighting Up for a Cause” will feature Los Caidos (Spanish for “The Fallen”) cigars – a special blend created for the occasion by award-winning Miami factory Casa Fernandez.

“Our heroes are those who risk their lives every day to make our world a better place,” says Myron Williams, General Manager of Cross Street Tobacco. “All too often, we take the sacrifices made by the police – and by their families – for granted. ‘Lighting Up for a Cause’ is my way of recognizing these heroes. My hope is to sell enough boxes of Los Caidos to make a significant financial contribution to the families of fallen police officers in the Baltimore area.”

The May 21 event – which is supported by Deputy Commissioner Darryl De Sousa of the Baltimore City Police Department – is part of a national effort created by Steve Zengel, owner of Manasquan, New Jersey’s Beach House Cigars. Baltimore is one of only six cities nationally chosen to launch Zengel’s initiative. Cross Street Tobacco was selected for its 20-year history in the Baltimore area.

A former educator, Zengel was inspired to start “Lighting Up for a Cause” after one of his former students, Lakewood, NJ Police Officer Christopher Matlosz, was shot and killed in the line of duty. The death of Matlosz “made me realize what’s left behind when someone so young is lost in the line of duty,” Zengel remembers. “They think their pension will carry on, but it doesn’t. I wanted to give back, but I didn’t know how.”

Following the example of another former student who gave back to the community through his restaurant franchises, Zengel hit upon the idea of creating a special cigar which would honor fallen police officers and then donating proceeds from its sale to their family members. From there, holding “Lighting Up for a Cause” events nationally became a natural progression.

For cigar aficionados, the Los Caidos cigars to be featured at Baltimore’s “Lighting Up for a Cause” are a unique blend of Corojo 99 wrapper and binder and crillo 98 and 99 mixed filler, using tobacco leaf from Aganorsa Tobacco Farms.

Zengel explains, “When you smoke a cigar from a box of Los Caidos, 10 cigars remain with two open slots, or 10-0-0 – police code for ‘officer down’.”

To drive the point home, a printed description from Zengel inside the box reads, “The special shaped torpedo [cigar] is intended for you, the box purchaser and supporter of the cause. The 12th spot [in the box] is the End of Watch cigar, reserved for whomever it is you are honoring and remembering as you light up …”

“Everyone knows a police officer,” concludes Williams. “Participating in ‘Lighting Up for a Cause’ would be a great way to show support for the unwavering service of that officer and all of the other officers who serve.”

For more information about “Lighting Up for a Cause,” visit Cross Street Tobacco online at www.cstcigars.com or call 410-752-9220.