SC_TIMES_TRIB/TIMES_PAGES [D16] | 02/10/17 12:20 | ONEILLKEVI

Marley’s Mission to honor police officers with award at galaBy Peter Shaver

Staff Writer

Chrissy McLaughlinr e t u r n s h o m e t oNortheast Pennsylva-

nia on Saturday to present anaward close to her heart atMarley’s Mission’s seventhannual Blue Ribbon Gala

The Remembering ZacharyAward, which recognizes peo-ple who seek to raise aware-ness about child abuse, thisyear honors local police offi-cers Scott Benzeleski, EricLindsay, Anthony Shields andDaniel Schaufler while alsomemorializing McLaughlin’s14-month-old son, Zachary,who was murdered in 2005. Allof this year’s recipients volun-teered at the Hands andHoovesSummerCampatMar-ley’s Mission, a nonprofit thatprovides free equine-assistedpsychotherapy to children

who have experienced trauma“The officers didn’t reveal

who they were to anybody (atcamp),”said McLaughlin,whoreceived the first award in 2011and has presented it to otherseach year since. “They werethere to help out as counselors,and they connected with thekids throughout the week.”

McLaughlin described it asa “very powerful moment” atthe end of the week when thepolice officers’ shared theirprofession with the children.

“Everyone’s perspective isdifferent of a police officer,especiallykidswhoarethevic-

tims of trauma,” McLaughlinsaid. “It was really impactfulfor the kids to see these policeofficers just as human beings.”

McLaughlin, also the gala’shonorary chairperson, hasdeep ties to Marley’s Mission.She met its founder, AprilKemp, through attorney GeneTalerico, who prosecutedMcLaughlin’s son’s murderer.Kemp’s daughter also was avictim of trauma, and the twowomen connected “mom-to-mom” over their shared trage-dies. They supported oneanother as they sought to cre-ate positive change, especially

when McLaughlin worked forseveral years to have the statepass Zachary’s Law, whichstrengthened the sentencingfor people convicted of thethird-degreemurderof achild.

“Gene, April and I workedon it together. ... I became thevoice of the law, as Zachary’smom,” McLaughlin said.“When (Kemp) started Mar-ley’s Mission, I wanted to dowhat I could to help.”

While commemoratingChild Abuse PreventionMonth every April, McLaugh-lin incorporates Marley’s Mis-sion into activities at the Vir-giniaelementaryschoolwhereshe teaches. They include dec-oratingtreeswithblueribbonsand holding a small fundraiserfor the organization.

And Marley’s Mission fur-ther showed its support ofMcLaughlin’s son by dedicat-

ing Zachary’s Way, an areawith seating for naturalreflection, at the mission’sNewton Twp. campus.

“AprildoesalottokeepZach-ary’s spirit alive,” McLaughlinsaid. “She tries to do things tohelpmecelebratehislife.”

In addition to recognizingthe long-standing devotion of

child advocates, Marley’s Mis-sion’s annual gala providesentertainment while raisingmoney for the nonprofit. Thegala, set for 6 p.m. at HiltonScranton and ConferenceCenter, features entertain-ment by Daddy-O and the SaxManiax with a special guest,13-year-old singer Olivia Kay.Tickets are $125.

McLaughlin stressed theimportance of the yearlygala, as it raises the moneyMarley’s Mission needs tocontinue to provide directsupport to child-abuse survi-vors at no cost to families.

“Nokidiseverchargedtogoto the mission,” she said. “It’sfree for everybody, always, soall the money that they raisegoes directly into the missionto help make that possible.”Contact the writer:pshaver@timesshamrock.com

If you goWhat: Marley’s Mission’sseventh annual Blue rib-bon GalaWhen: Saturday, 6 p.m.Where: Hilton Scrantonand Conference Center,100 adams ave.Details: attire is blacktie-optional. admission is$125. for more informa-tion, visit marleysmission.com/blue-ribbon-gala or email gene@marleysmission.com.

BenzeleSki linDSay ShielDS SChaufler

Northeast Pennsylvanianative Chrissy McLaughlin,

center, with her children, willpresent the Remembering

Zachary Award on Saturdayto four local police officers at

Marley’s Mission’s seventhannual Blue Ribbon Gala.

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D16 FEBRUARY 12, 2017 LIFE&TIMES