WEST ORANGE, NJ – T-shirts representing each year of the Nikhil Badlani Foundation’s annual Walk/Run for Nikhil lined the entrance to West Orange High School Suriano Stadium on Sept. 22 as hundreds gathered to raise money for traffic safety awareness, scholarships, and music education in memory of Nikhil Badlani. Nikhil was killed in June 2011 when a distracted driver ran a stop sign at Lenox and Wyoming Avenues in South Orange.
$50,000 was raised by participants for the 14th annual run, and attendees were able to enjoy Bollywood dancing, warm-ups, raffles, breakfast, artwork, vendors, and more. The event also featured the 5K Run, 3K Walk, and 5K Bike.
Troop Six, Nikhil’s Boy Scout troop, led the community in the Pledge of Allegiance and WOHS senior Abby Rothstein sang the National Anthem. The Nikhil Badlani Youth Advisory Board led Nikhil’s Pledge.
Guest speaker Senator John McKeon was introduced by NBF president Sangeeta Badlani.
“Senator McKeon has long supported our mission and is a true friend and advisor to our cause. Not only did he lead the charge in passing Nikhil’s Law, but he is also co-sponsoring the Target Zero Commission bill. Currently, we are also working closely with him on a new bill that will provide much-needed compensation and access to resources for traffic crash victims and their families. His unwavering commitment to safety and justice makes him an invaluable ally in our fight,” she stated.
West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney, who has attended every event since its inception, shared how NBF has impacted the township.
“We are here today to thank the Badlani Foundation for their efforts in getting enhanced legislative safety laws passed and for producing events like this that allow all of us to become participants and advocates to help affect change for public safety,” as she listed township initiatives:
- Adopting the Vision Zero Action Plan and the recent $450,000 grant award to implement the Plan
- Secured a NJ Department of Transportation Municipal Aid Grant for $1,890,000,000
- Received two $300,000. NJ Transit grant awards to assist our Senior Transportation Program
- Federal funding was received from the US Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program
- Funding from the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety for Pedestrian Safety Enforcement
- Formation of the West Orange Pedestrian Safety Board
“And this Thursday, the Township, along with four other municipalities, will be recognized with a Gold Award from EZ Ride for these achievements,” McCartney concluded.
NBF president Sangeeta Badlani also addressed the crowd, recounting the accomplishments of the Foundation since its beginning.
“It's been an incredible journey for the last 14 years, and we are just warming up,” she began.
- Traffic safety programs have reached over 34,000 students, creating 37 traffic murals and investing over $330,000 in life-saving initiatives
- Over $280,000 in scholarships have been awarded to 190 students
- $130,000 has been spent to support 160 students in music programs
- The NBF Youth Advisory Board, formed in 2019, has joined the effort, educating students and testifying on behalf of Bill 2789 (which was passed). The board was recognized by Gov. Phil Murphy in April
- Since then, NBF has expanded to include Burlington County and Indian Hills High School, building a network of passionate young leaders across North, Central, and Southern New Jersey.
“In 2007, as a third-grader, Nikhil wrote a heartfelt petition to former Mayor Robert Parisi to address the dangers he and other students faced walking to school. His early advocacy laid the groundwork for lasting change. Today, nearly two decades later, we are proud to announce that the Township has secured the 2024 NJ Safe Routes to School Grant in the amount of $966,000. This funding will bring much-needed safety improvements like constructing sidewalks and flashing beacons to key streets along Gregory and Lowell Avenues, fulfilling Nikhil’s vision for safer paths to school,” Badlani explained.
“Through a collaborative effort between the township and the Vision Zero Task Force, West Orange adopted the Vision Zero Action Plan in April with the aim to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2030. With a $450K federal grant for supplemental planning, we now need strong leadership and a dedicated team to implement this plan. Hoboken has been successful in achieving zero traffic deaths—and so can we.”
Safe Streets Jersey City received the 2024 Nikhil Badlani Inspiration Award for their advocacy in adopting its own Vision Zero Plan in 2018.
Badlani concluded her comments by saying, “While these local efforts are critical, we cannot achieve our goal without systemic changes at the state level. That’s why we are fighting for the Target Zero Commission bill, which will create a framework to eliminate traffic deaths by 2040 using the Safe System approach.
The alarming rise in traffic deaths across our state reminds us of the work still ahead. Traffic fatalities are up by 15% this year and pedestrian deaths by 32%. Behind these numbers are families—like mine and many others—who have experienced devastating loss. Enough is enough. We cannot let more families suffer the pain of losing a loved one on our roads.”
SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE RUN/WALK FOR NIKHIL HERE.
WATCH AMANDA EUSTICE'S NEW JERSEY 12 NEWS REPORT HERE.
And they're off!
14th Annual Run/Walk for Nikhil
Safe Streets Jersey City Colin DeVries, Sangeeta Badlani, Sen. John McKeon, Sunil Badlani, Mayor Susan McCartney
Executive Director-Hudson County Complete Streets Emmanuelle Morgen, Inspiration Award recipient Colin DeVries of Safe Streets Jersey City, Sangeeta Badlani
Cyndy Walsh Rintzler, Elizabeth and Jonathan Redwine, WOHS Principal Oscar Guerrero, Staci Cowens, Superintendent Hayden Moore, WOHS Catherine Connors
