{"id":260,"date":"2020-02-26T21:53:11","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T21:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/?page_id=260"},"modified":"2026-06-07T15:05:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T15:05:50","slug":"chapter-xiii-events","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/chapter-xiii-events\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter XIII Events"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A note from a Supporter: Tom Luciani – Thank you to the Blue Knights<\/a> NJ XIII and the local PD’s that participated in the Special Olympics<\/a> Torch Run today. On behalf of our daughter Julia, our family, and all other Special Olympiads we truly appreciate your time and effort to make this a very special event for them.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

June 5, 2026 – Pictured above L to R: NJSP Sgt. J Bambara, Club Treasurer Don Cavallo, Vice President Rick Lane, Director Steve Stys and Past President Lee Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue Knights Chapter XIII supporting the 2026 Special Olympics Annual Torch Run from Butler Police Department to the Lincoln Park ShopRite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2026 Torch Run Participants<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Tonight, June 3rd, 2026, several members of our club had the opportunity to meet with the Ayers family, spend some time with them, offer prayers, and present them with our gift. It was truly a beautiful and heartwarming experience. Seeing all the motorcycles and trucks ride down the street in front of their home, with horns sounding in support, was an unforgettable sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moments like these remind us why we hold this fundraiser every year. It is important that we come together as a club to raise money and support those in need within our community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to sincerely thank all of our members for their hard work on the Beefsteak fundraiser and for selling tickets. Your efforts make a real difference in the lives of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God bless you all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joe Shenekji, President Blue Knights Chapter XIII<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attached below is an email from the Ayers family, one of the recipients of our Beefsteak fundraiser proceeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hi Don – Thank you to you and the Blue Knights for the generous check, gift, prayer and visit tonight. Please see my daughter Nina’s texts below.\u00a0<\/strong>
From Nina….”Great gift from the Blue Knights! (Sofia loves, loves animals and this bunny toy is perfect for her!)<\/strong>
Mom, please text Don and thank him so much and tell him how much that visit lifted Sofia’s spirits. She’s been so happy and loves the gift, said it was “cool” the motorcycles came by and wants to see them again.<\/strong>
This is probably the happiest I’ve seen her in a long time.”<\/strong>
We all appreciate your kindness which lifted our precious Sofia tonight. Please share a deep heartfelt thank you – from our whole family – with your fellow Knights.<\/strong>
Laura<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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THIS is what it’s all about! Our Chapter presented the proceeds from our Annual 2025 Beefsteak to our awesome recipient at her house in Stanhope, NJ tonight. Francesca Esposito, a 28 year old single mother, suffering from an aggressive form of stomach cancer, welcomed us to her home tonight and introduced us to her beautiful son, Giovani, and her mother Sara, after nine Chapter XIII Members rode to her home to present the donation. Giovani, a huge motorcycle fan, and even bigger Monster Truck fan, had a blast trying on each and every motorcycle that was there. Francesca, Sara and Giovani welcomed us into their home for some fantastic treats and snacks and shared their stories with our crew. Such a wonderful and deserving family. As we rode away, we could see Giovani “revving” his engines and smiling ear to ear. Thank you to the members of Chapter XIII who made the trip tonight to make the presentation. I believe that we have made a couple more lifelong friends. May God Bless Francesca as she endures her treatments and we pray for all the best for her in the future.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Francesca and her son Giovani with Chapter XIII President Neil Hoogmoed. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Francesca, Giovani and Sara with Chapter XIII Members <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Chapter XIII Past President Lee Smith and Chapter member Steve Stys at the New Jersey Special Olympics Torch Run being awarded a plaque for leading the Torch Run from Butler Police Department to the Lincoln Park ShopRite. Plaque being presented by Sherry Calabro, Torch Run Organizer and daughter of our beloved Road Captain Rich Lydecker (Heaven I).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2025 Special Olympics Torch Run. L-R Rob Condatore, Dan Hackes, Steve Stys and Carl Padula. Taking photo is Lee Smith.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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2025 Special Olympics Torch Run led by Chapter XIII<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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July 17, 2024 President Neil Hoogmoed presenting the Beefsteak proceeds check to the Benkovic family. Nine Chapter members participated in the event and rode their bikes to the residence for Jonathan and his brother Joseph to enjoy. Outstanding evening!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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2ND Annual Blue Knights Chapter XIII Beefsteak held on May 18th at the Bloomingdale Fire House. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2ND Annual Blue Knights Chapter XIII Beefsteak held on May 18th at the Bloomingdale Fire House. THANK YOU to THREE DAY WEEKEND for donating your time and providing outstanding entertainment for the event!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2ND Annual Blue Knights Chapter XIII Beefsteak held on May 18th at the Bloomingdale Fire House.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2ND Annual Blue Knights Chapter XIII Beefsteak held on May 18th at the Bloomingdale Fire House. Our Chapter ion attendance holding our CHARTER from June 2nd, 1982. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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2ND Annual Blue Knights Chapter XIII Beefsteak held on May 18th at the Bloomingdale Fire House. Pictured are our Chapter members, along with members from the Blue Bloods, Blue Knights Chapter 17, Leathernecks, and Iron Horse Clubs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

June 5, 2026 – Pictured above L to R: NJSP Sgt. J Bambara, Club Treasurer Don Cavallo, Vice President Rick Lane, Director Steve Stys and Past President Lee Smith Tonight, June 3rd, 2026, several members of our club had the opportunity to meet with the Ayers family, spend some time with them, offer prayers, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-260","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/260","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=260"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/260\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1084,"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/260\/revisions\/1084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/bknjxiii.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=260"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}