10-year-old gives from the heart

RAVENA — When 10-year-old Alyssa Grogan had the opportunity to help out any charitable organization, she opted for one that is near and dear to her family’s heart — and one that aids New York state troopers in their time of need.

Grogan was the winner of this year’s Humanitarian Prize at the RCS Community Library and was able to select any charitable group of her choice to donate to. The prize is part of the summer reading program sponsored by the library to encourage children to read.

“Every summer the kids who read have the opportunity to earn raffle tickets for every 15 minutes they read,” Library Director Judith Wines said. “There are a variety of prizes. Last year we added the Humanitarian Prize.”

In 2017 the winning child donated their prize to the Hudson-Mohawk Humane Society to help homeless animals, and this year’s winner, Alyssa, chose the Signal 30 Benefit Fund, a program created in 2006 by the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers.

The Signal 30 Benefit Fund supports members of the state police and their families in times of extraordinary need, whether due to death, illness, injury, fire or another form of loss.

For Alyssa, Signal 30 has special significance — her father is a state trooper and a K-9 officer.

“I wanted to donate it to my dad’s job and help the troopers,” Alyssa said.

Alyssa’s father, Trooper Kevin Grogan, said when she won the Humanitarian Prize she was trying to decide where her donation should go.

“She asked if there is a fund for state police dogs,” Trooper Grogan, who works with a K-9 officer, said. “I told her about Signal 30, which is a fund that helps out troopers and their families when they are in need.”

With just a few days to go before starting sixth grade, Alyssa considered a number of charitable groups for her donation before deciding on the troopers’ benefit fund.

“I had a variety of places where I could put the money and I chose one. It was especially important to me because my dad is a trooper,” Alyssa said.

Her mother, Tricia Grogan, said Alyssa considered several groups that are close to her heart.

“She had several options,” Tricia Grogan said. “She was born with spina bifida, so she was torn between Ronald McDonald House, the Spina Bifida Association, and the Signal 30 Benefit Fund. I asked her why she chose Signal 30, and she said she wanted to support Dad’s job.”

Tricia Grogan said the family is very involved and active with both Ronald McDonald House and the Spina Bifida Association, “so I think she wanted to focus on this one.”

On hand at the library to accept Alyssa’s donation to Signal 30 was Trooper Charlie DiSanto, who is also treasurer of the Police Benevolent Association. He explained the mission of the group Alyssa chose.

“Signal 30 was started in 2006. We were having a lot of line-of-duty deaths and catastrophes within families, so there was a call for us to develop a charity,” DiSanto said. “People wanted to donate, so we developed Signal 30 to help troopers and their families.”

The phrase “signal 30” indicates a trooper’s radio call for help and is only used when they need immediate assistance in an emergency.

Troopers can apply for assistance from the Signal 30 Benefit Fund when they have an emergency that impacts them or their family, and not just when it happens in the line of duty. Troopers can benefit from the fund for other reasons, such as a fire or flood at their home, a serious illness or death.

“You never hear about the hard times families have, but with this charity we are able to find out where the needs are,” DiSanto said.

He added that Alyssa’s decision was touching.

“I was absolutely floored when I found out — it was so generous of her,” DiSanto said. “She could have chosen anyone, and she chose us. There is still hope for everyone out there. People are still generous, even kids, and the fact that the library is helping to instill this shows people still believe we can help one another.”

The Signal 30 Benefit Fund was recently used to aid the family of a young state trooper who died of cancer. She did not have much time on the job but left behind a young family, so her fellow troopers wanted to help.

“When there is a sudden loss, there are always people who are left behind,” Kevin Grogan said.