Child shows spirit of giving BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer Daniel Elice MARLBORO - Members of the Marlboro Police Department thanked fifthgrader Daniel Elice on the morning of Oct. 30 for a donation he made to the department. Daniel, 10, saved up his allowance and walked into police headquarters in June with an $11 donation for Marlboro's finest. "This was the first time, really, that a young person came in with a donation," Lt. Douglas Van Note said, adding that some children do things as a class, but rarely as individuals. Van Note said he wanted to make Daniel's donation special for the youngster. "For him to come in and do this is great," the lieutenant said. So surprising Daniel in his classroom at the Frank Defino Central School, Route 79, on Oct. 30 were Van Note, Deputy Chief Eric Landau and Patrolman Stephen Levy, who is the school resource officer. The police officers presented Daniel with a certificate of recognition and some other goodies. "I had a tickle in my stomach when they said my name," Daniel recalled. Daniel's donation to the police department was combined with that of the Police Explorers to benefit the Special Olympics, one of the charities that is supported by the police department, according to Van Note. The group attended the Plane Pull fundraiser held at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sept. 29 to raise money for the Special Olympics. Daniel was presented with a commemorative T-shirt from the Plane Pull since his donation went toward that fundraiser. He said he also received a goody bag and a badge. Cheryl Elice, Daniel's mother, went to the school to see her son be recognized that morning. Elice said she and her husband have tried to teach their children to help others. "We feel very blessed with what we have and wanted to make sure we instilled that sense of appreciation in our kids, but also with the desire to give back to the community," Elice said, adding these feelings were why she and her husband decided to give the children an allowance so they could start making their own decisions about their money. Daniel said he receives a $5 weekly allowance of which $1 must go to a charity and another $1 goes to the bank. The remainder is Daniel's to do with as he pleases. When asked if he will give to the police again, Daniel said 'Probably,' but added that he would like to give to other groups as well. Elice said she hopes the recognition offered to her son by the Marlboro police will inspire Daniel to continue to give to charitable organizations.