MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Police Department will reach new heights next month to support Special Olympics West Hawaii, a year-round program dedicated to helping children and adults with intellectual disabilities improve their quality of life through sports.

For Cop On Top, local police officers will spend held Sept. 3 through Sept. 5 in the air on scaffolding at the Safeway on Henry Street in Crossroads Center in Kailua-Kona. They will rally support and drop buckets below to those passing by for donations to SOWH.

This year’s goal is to raise $15,000 and the police officers will actually sleep in the scaffolding for the three night — or until the monetary objective is reached.

All funds raised will stay in West Hawaii to be used for the SOWH program and its athletes. Cop On Top is SOWH’s biggest fundraiser of the year. SOWH is a nonprofit organization that is funded by donations, said SOWH Area Director Dave Ross.

SOWH helps athletes develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skill and friendship with fellow athletes, families and the community. SOWH teams compete in Area Games on the Big Island and on Maui in order to qualify for the State Games on Oahu, where Special Olympics teams throughout the Hawaiian Islands compete for medals, Ross said.

SOWH appreciates the support the local community and makes giving back a priority. Annually, SOWH participates in service projects like beach cleanups, tree plantings, as well as runs aid stations for Ironman events, Kona Marathon and the Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Ross said.

Here are some ways the public can help with Cop On Top:
* MAKE A DONATION – When you do your Safeway shopping Sept. 3 through Sept. 5, contribute. Or, thank the local police officers, athletes, volunteers and Safeway employees for their time and effort in supporting and promoting SOWH.
* GET INVOLVED – Become a part of this Fundraising event. Volunteers are needed to solicit donations and give information about SOWH. Those interested in volunteering should contact SOWH Volunteer Coordinator KC Strand at zionvideos@yahoo.com or 315-7944.