Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies will once again be gearing-up in their duty uniforms to assume slightly different “roles,” this coming weekend, as they don aprons, take meal orders and carry serving trays as part of a nationwide law enforcement fund raising effort to generate money specifically for Special Olympics.
Entitled “Tip-a-Cop,” this yearly fundraising event has deputies serving as volunteer waiters at the Red Robin Restaurant, 10455 Silverdale Way NW, Silverdale, on Saturday, April 17, from noon until 8 p.m.
Money earned by the waiters, in the form of tips or gratuities, is donated to Special Olympics Washington and directly benefits Kitsap County Special Olympics athletes.
The deputies donate their services during off-duty hours. The program is supported by both the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and the Kitsap County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild.
Last year, sheriff’s deputies collected more than $5,000 in tips for Special Olympics Washington… one of the higher amounts of customer donations received by any Washington State Red Robin Restaurant during the “Tip-a-Cop” fundraising effort.
The “Tip-a-Cop” program is but one part of the overall, year-long, Law Enforcement Torch Run Campaign (LETR), celebrating its 29th anniversary this year, which supports Special Olympics. In addition to “Tip-a-Cop,” the torch run campaign includes an international series of relay runs conducted by more than 85,000 law enforcement officers in 35 countries to raise funds and public awareness for Special Olympics.
This portion of the fundraising campaign will occur at 35 Red Robin restaurants in Washington, during a two week period from April 5 - April 17, with various law enforcement agencies providing volunteer celebrity waiters on April 17. In past years the annual “Tip-a-Cop” fundraising effort was held in late summer or early fall in Washington State. This year, like in 2009, “Tip-a-Cop” is being hosted in the spring at participating Red Robin Restaurants in 35 states.
The vision of Special Olympics is to help bring all persons with intellectual disabilities into larger society under conditions where they are accepted, respected and given a chance to become useful and productive citizens.
Special Olympics Washington provides year-round training and competition for both child and adult Special Olympics competitors. By participating in sports, physical fitness and healthcare education programs, Special Olympics Washington athletes increase self-confidence and social skills, improve physical and motor skills and have increased success in leading productive and independent lives.
Events like “Tip-a-Cop” help provide these programs at no cost to the athletes or their families.
More than 8,000 athletes compete in Special Olympics Washington; more than 1.7 million athletes compete in Special Olympics programs, worldwide, in more than 150 countries.
The oath of the Special Olympics athletes says it all: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
For further information about Special Olympics Washington: www.sowa.org.
Additional information about Red Robin Restaurants can be found at: www.redrobin.com.
