Officers from 60 Police Departments Hit the Roofs Again for 4th Annual Dunkin' Donuts Rooftop Stakeout Benefiting Special Olympics Illinois, May 19
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2006-- On Friday, May 19, hundreds of police officers from throughout the state will stake out 60 Dunkin' Donuts rooftops for the fourth year in a row to heighten awareness and raise donations for the 21th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Illinois.
In 2003, when police officers first took to the Dunkin' Donuts rooftops to raise money for Special Olympics Illinois, 12 police departments participated and raised $20,000. Last year, 40 police departments were involved and raised more than $77,000. Officers this year hope to reach a donation goal of $100,000 at the 60 locations which include Chicago, Arlington Heights, South Holland, Aurora, Geneva, Mundelein and Addison.
The event will begin at 6 a.m. at all participating stores. In some cases, mayors and other local officials will join police officers on the store roofs.
In return for the police officers doing time at their stores, Dunkin' Donuts will donate a portion of the day's Iced Coffee sales, a total contribution of at least $10,000. In addition, everyone who makes a donation that day will receive prizes such as free donuts, travel mugs and hats.
Rockford Police Officer Pat Hoey says, "You just need to go to one Special Olympics game and see what Special Olympics does for the athletes and their families, and you're hooked. There's nothing phony about these athletesthey wear their hearts on their sleeves. The look on their faces when they see the police uniform and you're putting the medal around their neck...there's just nothing like it."
The Law Enforcement Torch Run was started in 1986. Each year, more than 3,000 officers cover 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and to the State Summer Games in Normal in June. It is the single largest yearround fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois.
Special Olympics Illinois is a notforprofit organization offering yearround sports training and competition in 19 sports for nearly 20,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Illinois programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, selfconfidence and social skills, and encourage family support.
Chef2Chef News Desk