Maui officers climb roofs for annual Cop on Top campaign
More than 33 law enforcement officers are camping atop Safeway stores statewide as they attempt to raise funds for Special Olympic athletes. Maui officers are stationed at stores in Kahului, Kihei and Lahaina. There are also 11 sites set up on Oahu, one on Kauai and two on Hawaii Island.
The Kahului Safeway is among the three Maui stores participating in the 9th Annual Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics. Photo by Wendy Osher.
Members at each store have set individual goals for the 9th annual event. Last year, the campaign raised a total of $210,000 statewide.
Each year, volunteer off-duty officers climb 14-feet and camp out atop the roofs of stores. There, they eat, sleep and collect donations, with the intent of raising their goal amount before the event officially ends at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2010.
The officers began their fundraising and awareness effort at 6 o’clock this morning.
The funds raised help to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The program provides clients the opportunity to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy. Services reach 2,100 athletes from across the state and are provided at no cost to the athletes or their families. The average cost to provide one athlete with sports training and competition is approximately $1,044 a year.
“This event literally helps us to raise the level of awareness for Special Olympics within the local communities in which our athletes live, work and play,” said Nancy Bottelo, president, Special Olympics Hawai’i.
MPD officers Tony Krau and Kaena Brown returned to the Kahului Safeway rooftop this morning for the 9th Annual Cop on Top fundraiser for Special Olympics. Photo by Wendy Osher.
“Every year, I look forward to Cop on Top because of the overwhelming amount of support that the event receives from the community. Someone always takes the time to approach me and tell me ‘thank you’ or to share a story about how Special Olympics Hawai‘i has changed the life of one of his or her family members,” said Patricia Ann Doronila, Hawaii Police Department officer and Special Olympics Hawai‘I coach.
(Posted by Wendy Osher; supporting information courtesy Special Olympics Hawaii)
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