Jake Rona, a sixth grade student at Grover Middle School, has organized a charity softball game to benefit the David J. Bachner Memorial Fund. Rona created the event in conjunction with his upcoming bar mitzvah. He attends Hebrew school at Congregation Beth Chaim. The players in the Saturday, June 9, event at Community Park in Plainsboro are Plainsboro Police Department vs. Plainsboro Fire Department. Admission is free.
“I was inspired to create this charity softball game to benefit the David J. Bachner Memorial fund, because I was touched by David’s story,” says Rona. “I too play baseball, like David did, so not only did I feel it was a worthy charity, but one I could connect to as well.”
David J. Bachner of Plainsboro graduated from High School North, Class of 2009. He was captain of the North baseball team and was named baseball player of the year by both the Trenton Times and the Trentonian. He broke numerous records on his way to earning a full scholarship to Seton Hall University. He died suddenly in his home on August 11, 2009.
The fund, set up by David’s parents, Rhonda and Steve Bachner, supports young athletes who wish to continue their baseball careers, an annual scholarship to a high school senior, and other charities to support children’s athletic endeavors.
“My baseball team was actually sponsored by the David Bachner Fund last year,” says Rona. “During the season, Mr. Bachner spoke to us about David. Not only about his achievements on the baseball field, but also, the person he was off the field. That is what inspired me to raise money for their worthwhile charity.”
Rona has lived in Plainsboro all his life. Always interested in sports, he plays soccer, basketball, and baseball. He has been playing with Cranbury Plainsboro Little League since T-ball. “Jake never met David,” says his mother, Andrea Rona. “When it came time for him to choose a mitzvah project, he immediately wanted to do something for the David J. Bachner Memorial Fund. He figured a charity softball game would be a perfect event.”
The family has lived in Princeton Landing, Raven’s Crest, and Walker Gordon Farm. Jake’s father, Mitchell, has worked for Sigma Corporation in Cream Ridge for 24 years. His brother, Max, 15, is a student at High School South. Although his mother, Andrea, calls herself a stay at home mom, she is in her third year on the board of the Cranbury Plainsboro Little League, running the concession stand. She also volunteers and works part-time doing fundraising for Jewish Family & Children’s Service.
“Everything Jake does, he does big — which is how this event came about,” says Andrea. When Jake was 10 and a student at Millstone River, the custodians’ jobs were going to be outsourced. “Jake was very, very upset,” says Andrea. “He and many of his friends had become close with many of the custodians and he felt terrible that they were going to lose their jobs. He could not stop thinking about it and felt he had to do something.” He started a petition in his school and asked all of the students and teachers to sign the petition. Jake attended a school board meeting with close to 300 people in attendance and a long line of parents at the podium who had various issues. “I knew Jake was nervous and asked if he needed help but he said no,” says Andrea. “When he got to the podium, my husband got him a step stool and he stood there at the microphone and gave his speech to all those people and the entire school board. He received a standing ovation. Needless to say, we were very proud of him.”
The event will earn money through the tricky tray featuring prizes from local businesses, a raffle, and the sale of burgers, hot dogs, and cheesesteaks at the concession stand, pizza from Romeos, and an ice cream truck. Detective Potts will be announcing the game and Christopher Fox and Tom Mckeever will be donating their time as umpires. Others who have helped with the event include Arthur Gant, a Plainsboro Police Officer, Chuck Rogers from the Public Works Department, and Rhonda and Steve Bachner.
— Lynn Miller
Charity Softball Game, David J. Bachner Fund, Community Park, Plainsboro. www.facebook.com/events/2852271 or E-mail Andrea Rona at anniehall33@gmail.com.
