The Kenneth F. Tietjen Memorial Foundation was created in November 2001 as a non-profit organization to honor the memory of Port Authority Police Officer Kenny Tietjen who, at the age of 31, sacrificed his life on September 11th. The main goal of the Foundation is to work with local police and fire departments to provide aid to underprivileged children throughout New Jersey.  Because the Foundation is run by volunteers, donations go directly to the children.

The idea for the Foundation came about because each year during the Christmas season, the Tietjen's would "adopt" a needy family and provide all the food, clothes, and toys to help make the family's Christmas a happy one. It was always Kenny's job to provide the bikes for the children - it was something he looked forward to doing.
 
With the holidays approaching less than three months after Kenny was killed, his family and friends wanted to find a positive way to keep his memory alive and lessen the huge hole that they would feel by spending Christmas without him.
 
Through generous donations from friends, family, community groups and businesses, fellow Port Authority police officers, and wonderful strangers, the Foundation was able to purchase and deliver 11 bicycles to needy children that very first year.  With your continued support, Kenny's Foundation has grown enormously, and during 2007, we were able to help more than 600 children.

With the help of so many, we have been able to expand and redefine the mission of the Foundation to supplying assistance in the areas of education and basic necessities.

Thank you so much for helping us to keep Kenny's wonderful spirit alive!  We look forward to helping many more needy children in the months and years to come.