by Chuck Seaver, SOUTH LAKE TABLET
Members of the Clermont Police Department (CPD) rolled up their sleeves for the annual “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse, 2457 South US-27, Clermont, on Wednesday evening, March 13th. The officers helped the wait staff with serving food, drinks, and customer hospitality needs throughout the evening to help support the Special Olympics Florida (SOF). SOF volunteers were on-site as well to offer for sale t-shirts, ballcaps, and trinkets to the diners. The event is not only a positive community relations interaction with the public but 100% of the tips and customer donations raised will be given to the Special Olympics Florida local headquarters located in Clermont.
Special Olympics is a global organization that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities while working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Those activities give the participants continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship.
The Clermont Police Department has been a long-time advocate and support team for the SOF organization by means of fundraising and participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida. The local Torch Run will take place on April 24th with registration beginning at 9:15 am in the parking lot of the SOF Headquarters located at 1915 Don Wickham Drive, Clermont.
The Torch Run gains the support of over 300 Florida law enforcement agencies each year. With nearly 5,000 police officers participating statewide, the run includes a 1500-mile relay through 67 Florida counties before ending at the opening ceremony of the annual state summer games. The state summer games begin on May 17th at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and USTA National Campus, 700 South Victory Way, Orlando.
The CPD has one additional “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser scheduled for the Special Olympics Florida on April 10th, from 4-8 pm at Miller’s Ale House, 1555 South Grand Highway, Clermont.
Visit www.specialolympicsflorida.org to learn more about the non-profit organization and its mission statement.
