Scholarship Fund Receives $600 From Basketball Benefit

MANCHESTER, NJ -- For the seventh straight year, the Manchester Township Police Department and the members of the Manchester Township School District staff faced off on the basketball court to honor the memory of a coach and teacher who touched the lives of many in the town.

The seventh annual benefit basketball game, held last Friday, March 18, raised $600 for the Rodney Copeland Athletic Scholarship Fund, Manchester Capt. Todd Malland said.

The Copeland scholarship fund was founded in memory of the 1983 Manchester Township High School graduate and coach who died in 2009 at the age of 44. Copeland, a lifelong Manchester resident, worked for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department in addition to coaching three sports at Manchester Township High School.

Among those in the audience were Mayor Kenneth Palmer, school district staff, police personnel and their families. Chief Lisa Parker is thankful to everyone who participated in and attended the event.

“The Rodney Copeland Athletic Scholarship Fund benefit basketball game has been a memorable community event for the past several years, and we’re proud to join with our partners in the school district for a good cause whenever we can,” Parker said.

The Manchester Township Police team pulled off a 55-45 victory against the school district team, which was led by Manchester Township High School Principal Dennis Adams. Officer Chris Cerullo, who serves as school resource officer at the high school, organized the event for the police.

Players for the police department included Officers Robert Dolan, Robert Sharry, Christian Nazario, Joseph Reilly, Jason Weiner, Joseph Fastige, Michael Anderson, Dan Wehrle and Confidential Aide Greg Kyriakakis.

(The Manchester Township Police team poses with the Copeland family and School District team following the Friday night benefit basketball game. Manchester Township Police photo)