Council Rock North Graduate Advocates For Shop With A Cop.

NEWTOWN, PA — Thanks to the advocacy of Council Rock North 2022 graduate TJ Blancado, more children will experience a happy holiday season come December.

Through the efforts of Blancado and the school’s Student Executive Board, students at CRN raised $11,000 during the 2021-22 school year for Shop With A Cop, a nonprofit which is all about making the holidays brighter for children going through a difficult time.

Standing in front of the high school just days before graduation on a sunny June afternoon, Blancado presented the third and final check of the year to the Shop With A Cop program.

On hand to accept the donation were Newtown area District Judge Mick Petrucci and Newtown Township Police Corporal Paul Deppi. Joining them were Newtown Borough Police Chief James Sabath, Middletown Township Police Officer Melissa Robison and Upper Makefield Police Sergeant
Daniel Jones.

The latest check for $5800 was from the Mr. CRN all-male charity pageant, which Blancado won back in March. He wowed the judges with his Piano Man harmonica playing.

During the competition, seniors dressed up in tuxedos and competed for the prestigious title of “Mr. CRN” by performing short skits and coming up with the best pick-up lines. The contest also included a Q&A and a group dance, all to raise money for local charity.

The winner gets a free ticket to the prom, a free rental tuxedo from Schweon's Clothing & Formal Wear, and flowers from Bucks County Roses. In addition, 60 percent of the proceeds from the event are donated to the winner’s charity of choice.

“There were some guys who I thought were better pageant queens than I, but I was elated to win and raise the money for Shop With A Cop,” said Blancado.

At the beginning of the school year, Blancado also convinced the Student Executive Board to select Shop With A Cop as its charity of choice for the school year.

The board subsequently designated money raised at its two major events - Blue and White Night, the biggest school wide event of the year, and a Car Smash, held in conjunction with Fall Fest - to Shop With A Cop.

For the car smash, students got to use paint and sledge hammers to trash a junk car provided by Lin Bethman & Sons Auto Center.

“(Newtown Township Police) Chief (John) Hearn and I took the honorary first swings to get it all going. And it went. People were jumping on the car and smashing it,” said Petrucci.

After receiving the latest donation from Blancado, Petrucci couldn’t help but feel extremely lucky and proud to have had such an advocate for Shop With A Cop at the school.

“To me TJ is a rock star,” said Petrucci. “The fact that he chose Shop With A Cop is amazing. He knows who I am. He sees what I do with Shop With A Cop, but I didn’t twist his arm. He approached me. And when he did, all I could say was, ‘Wow. Thank you.’

“It’s really an honor. And the fact that he’s helping to spread the good word about Shop With A Cop throughout the school is fantastic,” added Petrucci.

The young man’s advocacy also brought a lot of thanks and praise from the local police officers who believe strongly in Shop With A Cop and devote a lot of volunteer time to the effort.

“I love that you guys kept it local,” said Robison. “It’s awesome that you’ve done that and recognize that there is plenty of need right in our own backyard. You’re going to help a lot of people.”

In addition to serving on the Student Executive Board, Blancado played lacrosse, served as president of the Veterans Service Club and was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America at CR North.

Blancado’s future plans include spending a semester abroad in Glasgow, Scotland before continuing his education at Northeastern University in Boston. He will be majoring in finance at Northeastern with career aspirations to become a financial advisor.

The money raised by Blancado and the executive board will be used by Shop With A Cop to provide a memorable and joyful holiday to children in the Council Rock School District facing difficult and challenging circumstances.

Shop With A Cop, a holiday shopping experience like no other, pairs local police officers with children who are facing life challenges, including a parent losing a job, personal tragedy, homelessness, military deployment, economic shortcomings, and other hardships.

At the event, each child is allocated between $150 and $200 to purchase gifts for themselves and their family members. The kids are then joined on their holiday shopping spree by police officers who are there to assist them with their special shopping experience.

Donations to Shop With A Cop may be made to the Middletown Township Community
Foundation, a nonprofit charity. In the memo line write “SWAC.” Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 1128, Langhorne 19047.