‘Special tips for Special Olympics’

Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies will don aprons and take orders this weekend at Red Robin on Silverdale Way.

Sheriff’s deputies will serve as volunteer waiters and waitresses from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Red Robin restaurant in Silverdale as part of the annual Tip-A-Cop fund-raiser. Money earned by the deputies, in the form of tips, will be donated to Special Olympics Washington and directly benefits Kitsap County Special Olympics athletes.

“The concept is national and happens at a variety of restaurants nationwide, but in Washington and Oregon it’s at Red Robin restaurants,” said Jill Ward, Special Olympics Washington spokeswoman.

Tip-A-Cop is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Campaign (LETR) which includes an “international series of relay runs and special events,” according to a news release. More than 85,000 law enforcement officers worldwide raise money and public awareness for Special Olympics.

“It goes toward supporting our athletes,” Ward said.

The Tip-A-Cop portion of the LETR Campaign will occur Saturday at 32 Red Robin restaurants in Washington with various law enforcement agencies providing volunteer celebrity waiters.

“Last year we raised $100,000,” Ward said. “We’re hoping to raise that much again or more this year.”

Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies donate their time to participate in the fund-raiser. Tip-A-Cop is supported by the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office and the Kitsap County Deputy Sheriff’s Guild.

“It’s the one thing that law enforcement agencies have banded together for in Kitsap County,” said Deputy Scott Wilson, KCSO spokesman.

Last year, KCSO collected the highest amount of customer donations received by any Red Robin location in Washington. Deputies raised more than $6,000 in tips for Special Olympics Washington.

More than 7,000 athletes compete in Special Olympics Washington and one million athletes compete in Special Olympics programs in more than 165 countries. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 14 different sporting events for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Money raised through Tip-A-Cop helps pay for transportation, housing and facility fees to enable athletes to participate in the sporting events.

“Anything it takes to participate in one of our 14 sports,” Ward said.

For more information about Special Olympics Washington, visit the Web site, www.sowa.org. For more information about Red Robin restaurants, visit www.redrobin.com.

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