May 23, 2012
Officers with the HISD Police Department lifted a torch—an Olympic torch, that is—in the streets of Houston on May 23 to raise both awareness of and financial support for this year’s Special Olympics.
“A lot of people, when they think of Special Olympics, they just think of kids with developmental disabilities,” said HISD Police Officer and event coordinator Lee Niño. “But Special Olympics is for people of all ages, with mental or physical challenges. And the money we raise goes not only to pay for medals and uniforms, but also for scholarships and job training.”
Police department representatives will be participating in the Gulf Coast leg of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run through May 27 at locations across Texas. The run will conclude at the site of the Special Olympics summer games in Arlington, Texas.
Special Olympics provides year-round activities at Olympic-style events for intellectually and physically disabled children and adults.
Law enforcement officers from all 50 states support Special Olympics through the Torch Run and a number of other events throughout the year, such as “Tip a Cop,” in which officers assist waitstaff at local restaurants for donations, and “Cops on Top,” in which officers perch atop local donut shops to raise awareness.
To make a donation, please visit the Texas Special Olympics website.
