‘Keeping his dream alive’

Jimmy Cvetic died in 2019, but his legacy remains. You could see it on display Sunday morning during the Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League Toy Drive’s annual toy distribution at the Monroeville Mall Stuff A Store.

Cvetic worked for years as an Allegheny County Police detective, as well as a boxing coach and promoter. He started the toy drive more than 40 years ago. Police departments collected toys throughout the year, and on Sunday representatives from those departments picked up the toys so they could be presented to families and children in their communities.

“I am so thankful to his wife, Gloria, keeping his dream alive,” said Maurita Bryant, a retired assistant chief with Pittsburgh police and co-chair of the toy drive. “It’s going strong. COVID set us back a bit … but it’s back. Jimmy would be proud.”