Local law enforcement raise funds for Special Olympics
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Local law enforcement departments paired with Indiana State University to raise funds for the Special Olympics.
Wednesday evening, the Tip-a-Cop fundraising event was hosted at Texas Roadhouse. Law enforcement officers and department personnel volunteered their time as celebrity waiters to collect tips from customers.
First Financial Bank makes donations to 60 local organizations
All of their tips will be donated to Special Olympics through the annual Polar Plunge of Terre Haute.
'We've been doing this for years. The Indiana Special Olympics started at ISU campus. Two of our professors founded the Indiana Special Olympics. So, that's why it's important to Terre Haute and to Indiana State University to hold these events and raise money. Because it comes back to Terre Haute and our own community,' Indiana State University Police Sergeant Jacquelyn Smith said.
The Polar Plunge will be held on February 15 at 12:00 p.m., at the Indiana State University Student Recreation Center.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Local Special Olympics torch run marks 39 years
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Special Olympics athletes know most events have a start and finish. A torch run Friday started at Cobbs Hill Park. 'I know it's a little rain, but we got through it,' Special Olympic athlete Jacob Babcock said. At the run, Babcock reconnected with some of the members of local law enforcement who ran with him during the pandemic. 'So me, Erin, John 'Pre,' and all them and Brett Sobrieraski and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, we all came together, it was such an amazing process,' Babcock said. He's talking about Rochester Police Detective Erin Rogers. She helps with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. 'As soon as you see the athletes and see how excited they are to see you and how they're supportive of you, there's nothing better than that and you just want to support them back,' Rogers said. Cori Piels, also an athlete, will tell you that relationship means a lot. 'It's so nice to have the support of law enforcement. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be doing this,' Piels said. The two groups have been doing the torch run together for 39 years. The event gives Chris Teich and everyone else a chance to celebrate all things Special Olympics. 'It embodies family, friendship, leadership and so much more,' athlete Chris Teich said. This year's course took them through Park Ave and all the way to Parcel 5 where they stopped running, making it look like this event is one of those that has a finish, but because of the bond between all of them, there's no end in sight. Friday's torch run is part of a series happening across the state. That series will end in Ithaca where the Special Olympics summer games will later in June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
55th annual Special Olympics Hawaii kicks at UH Manoa
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Special Olympics Hawai'i athletes are ready to go the distance as the 55th Annual State Summer Games get underway this Opening Ceremonies began Friday morning at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Les Murakami Stadium, with hundreds of athletes, coaches, and supporters from across the state gathering to celebrate one of the organization's biggest events of the year. WakeUp2Day's Chris Latronic was live on location, speaking with Dan Epstein, president and CEO of Special Olympics Hawai'i, and Kenji Roy Momohara, a Special Olympics athlete, to preview the festivities. Athletes have been training since February to compete in events such as powerlifting, softball, swimming, and track and field. The Summer Games run from Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8, with multiple venues across Honolulu hosting competitions and special programs. The Opening Ceremonies also marked the finish line for participants in the First Hawaiian Bank Troy Barboza Law Enforcement Torch Run. Now in its 40th year, the torch run honors Honolulu Police Officer Troy Barboza, who coached Special Olympics athletes before he was tragically killed in the line of duty. Law enforcement officers from across city, county, state, and federal agencies join the run annually to raise awareness and support for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Celebrate the Summer Solstice at Capitol Modern Friday, June 6 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Softball (UH Mānoa and Sand Island) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies (Les Murakami Stadium) 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Cheer for Champions Fundraiser (Les Murakami Stadium) Saturday, June 7 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Healthy Athletes Program (UH Mānoa and Kaiser High School) 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Track and Field (Kaiser High School) 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Powerlifting (UH Mānoa, Warrior Recreation Center) 9:15 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Swimming (Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex) 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Softball Finals (UH Mānoa) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Victory Dance (UH Mānoa) Sunday, June 8 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Swimming Finals (UH Mānoa) 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Powerlifting Finals (UH Mānoa) 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Track and Field Finals (Kaiser High School) Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Les Murakami Stadium (UH Mānoa) – Opening Ceremonies, Softball Finals Sand Island Softball Complex – Softball competitions Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex – Swimming events Warrior Recreation Center (UH Mānoa) – Powerlifting Henry J. Kaiser High School – Track and Field For full details on the event and volunteer opportunities, visit Special Olympics Hawai'i. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Special Olympics Indiana's Summer Games begin in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Thousands of athletes, volunteers, and supporters from around the state of Indiana are in Terre Haute this weekend for Special Olympics Indiana's biggest event of the year. Athlete Hunter Canada said the feeling is amazing. 'It's pretty entertaining and fun just being out there with all the other people competing', Canada said. 'I'm wishing everybody good luck.' Athletes compete in a number of different events like swimming on the campus of Rose-Hulman and volleyball, track and field, and pickleball at Indiana State. One duo from Jackson County, AJ Engel and Hunter Canada, claimed the top two spots in their 800-meter race. 'I was expecting him to pass me at the end, but we were expecting to get first and second', Canada said. 'It feels good to take first and second', Engel said. 'The runners were good competition.' Some athletes have been competing for their entire lives. 'I've done this for as long as I remember', Engel said. 'I've run track in middle school and high school. I just really feel like Special Olympics is good.' Other, like Madison Carter, have chosen the volunteer route. 'I've actually been doing this for eight years now', Carter said. 'I started out in high school doing Best Buddies, unified track, peer tutoring, you name it, I've probably done it. Then I've been in volleyball since I was nine years old, so I reached out to somebody here at Special Olympics. I started as a volunteer, then became a part of the management team, and now I'm the manager of it all.' All involved agree the best part about the event is coming together. 'The camaraderie and building those relationships throughout the entire experience here is like no other', Carter said. 'I've seen people since I started eight years ago, all the way to new people this year. I think those relationships are like no other.' Events will continue in Terre Haute and on the campuses of Indiana State and Rose-Hulman through the weekend. All events are open to the public at no cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
