Hazlet Boy Scout’s Eagle Project Saves RAINE Foundation $4K Per Year

Kyle Mulvey

A Hazlet teenager’s leadership and commitment to his community will have a lasting impact on the RAINE Foundation, the all volunteer local charity that delivers thousands of toys to hundreds of Bayshore families at Christmas and supports families in crisis everyday.

Kyle Mulvey, a Raritan High School junior and a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 66 of the Twin Lights District of the Monmouth County Council, Boy Scouts of America led 80 volunteers….fellow scouts and members of the Raritan wrestling and football teams..in building a new operations center for RAINE. The project, which is part of Mulvey becoming an Eagle Scout, consisted of acquiring a storage trailer, securing a location and rigging it with shelving and solar powered lighting. RAINE will use the facility to store the supplies it uses to help families in need.

RAINE President Anthony Petruzzi, Raritan’s football coach, speaking yesterday at the ribbon cutting for the unit, said that the charity will save $4,000 per year in storage fees due to Mulvey’s project. The facility is housed behind the Beers Street School.

Hazlet Mayor Sue Kiley

Mulvey told MMM that he decided to support RAINE as his Eagle Scout Project after a fire at the home of his assistant Scoutmaster. On the night of the fire Mulvey sprung into action by calling fellow members of his Scout Troop to support the assistant Scoutmaster’s family. He also called Patti Dickens, the founder of RAINE. Dickens showed up and the scene of the burnt down home in 20 minutes and shortly thereafter secured temporary housing and supplies for the tragically displaced family. “Being and Eagle Scout means leadership and giving back to the community,” Mulvey said. “I wanted to give back to RAINE because of how they stepped up when needed.”

RAINE..Reaching All In Need Everyday…was founded after 9-11 when Dickens and her husband Matt sprung into action to help families who lost a loved one in the terrorist attack, Hazlet Mayor Sue Kiley said during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Kiley, Dickens’ sister and a member of RAINE’s executive board, said that Vision, Commitment and Volunteerism are the core values of RAINE. Kiley acknowledged the vision of Dickens and subsequent RAINE leaders, the commitment of community businesses, organizations, Hazlet’s Board of Education and Police Department for their support of RAINE and the 500 strong volunteers.

Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon were on hand for the ceremony and presented Mulvey with a proclamation from the State Legislature acknowledging the young scout’s leadership and service.