Special Olympics Massachusetts

			History \| Fundraising Menu Show your support and wear the Torch Run t-shirt!
			If you are a member of Massachusetts Law Enforcement, we have a program custom-made for you to be a part of the worldwide partnership between Special Olympics and law enforcement. The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) provides awareness, encouragement, and funds to Special Olympics; while giving the law enforcement community excellent PR opportunities, rewarding volunteer work, and an effective community policing tool.
Below is a list of LETR events planned for 2008. Please get involved! Or – if you have an idea or would like to start an event (i.e. a Torch Run) or a fundraiser (big or small!) in your area, we want to hear from you! Contact the Special Olympics MA LETR Liaison, Lauren Fredette: 978-774-1501 x 227 or Lauren.Fredette (at) specialolympicsma.org. 2008 Events Calendar February 29 - Winter Games LETR, Worcester: Thank you to all the Worcester area department and the Massachusetts Department of Corrections for making this event a success! April 26 - Paintball Tournament, Upton: Paintball Tournament Promotional Flyer \| Register Here May 31 - Irving to Serve and Protect, Salem, Wakefield, Haverhill, Amesbury: Check back next month for more information! Legs of the Summer Games Torch Run: Leg Registration Form June 12 - Cape Cod Torch Run, 66.7 miles – the entire length of Cape Cod Leg Leader: Lt. Richard Tavares, Bourne PD, 508-326-0275, rtavares (at) townofbourne.com June 6 - Plymouth County Torch Run, 21 miles – Plymouth to Brockton Leg Leader: General Counsel Patrick Lee, Plymouth County Sheriff Department, (508) 830-6287, plee (at) pcsdma.org June 11 - Essex County Torch Run, 3 miles – Middleton PD to Danvers Leg Leader: Chief James DiGianvittorio, Middleton PD, 978-774-4424, Chief (at) Middletonpolice.com June 8- Attleboro, 10 miles - N. Attleboro to Mansfield (10 a.m.) Leg Leader: Chief Richard Pierce, Attleboro Police Department, 508-222-1212, Chief (at) attleboropolice.org June 13 - Final Leg, Boston College to Boston University with exciting conclusion at the 2008 Summer Games Opening Ceremonies Leg Leader: Joanne Russell-Gomez, Department of Labor, 617-565-9659 Final Leg Registration Form \| Final Leg Torch Run Course June 15 - Cruiser Convoy, Harvard University Athletic Fields: site of the 2008 Special Olympics MA Summer Games Leader: Chief James DiGianvittorio, Middleton PD, 978-774-4424, Chief (at) Middletonpolice.com Information Sheet \| Entry Levels \| Entry Form \| Promotional Flyer August 8 - August Tournament Torch Run, Amherst PD to UMass Amherst and Opening Ceremonies of 2008 August Tournament Leg Leader: Lt. Bob O’Connor, Amherst Police Department, 413-587-1166, o'connorR (at) amherstma.gov September 13 - Ride with the Champions: 62 mile bike ride through scenic North Shore September 20 - World’s Largest Truck Convoy: Location TBD: We need a committee to help support this event – find out more about this event here. First weekend in December - Jolly Jaunt: 7 locations in Massachusetts, LETR Division

Money raised with this event stays in the local community and supports the improvement of thousands of lives throughout the Commonwealth by providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. All of the approximately 10,000 athletes who currently participate in SOMA programs, do so at no cost to themselves, their families, or their caregivers. However, the movement benefits just a small percentage of the 90,000 people in Massachusetts with intellectual disabilities. Be a part of the global movement to grow the number of individuals with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics by raising money for the Torch Run. There are many different ways to raise money with the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Consider using one of the following suggestions to help raise money with the law enforcement torch run in your area: Start a run and charge Run Registration Fees (anywhere from $10 to $50 per runner, includes tshirt) Collect Pledges (provide runners with pledge forms and ask to solicit pledges) Sell Merchandise (i.e.sell t-shirts/hats/pins/paper torches) Sell Distance Markers/Adopt a Mile (sell them for $125 to $150 each to businesses along the run route) Selling Posters for $25 each to businesses along the route that say “The Torch for Special Olympics will be passing by here at X time on X date” Fundraising Scratch Cards. Each participant takes a scratch card with 45 dots on it. They ask people to scratch off dots and uncover a suggested donation amount ($0 to $5). Once all the dots are scratched off, the torch runner has raised $100! Sponsorships (companies interested in law enforcement business) Online Fundraising - Set up a free personal fundraising webpage today! Special Events (Tip-A-Cop, Cops on Top, Jail N Bail, spaghetti dinner, golf tournament, etc.). Tip-A-Cop is especially popular in LETR culture – we approach a local restaurant and ask if law enforcement officials can shadow the wait-staff for an evening and collect “tips” for Special Olympics. Contact Lauren at 978-774-1501 x 227 if you are interested in exploring any of these ideas, or you would like to start a fundraiser in your department!
For more detailed information, contact: SOMA State Headquarters: LETR Liaison, Lauren Fredette 978-774-1501 x 227 Local SOMA offices: South/Cape: Jay O’Brien -- 508-821-3635 West: Jonathon Muskrat -- 413-747-8946 Boston/North: Sean Canty -- 781-599-5817

This largest grassroots fundraising program benefiting Special Olympics began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics. The idea for the Torch Run was to provide local law enforcement officers with an opportunity to volunteer with Special Olympics in the communities where the officers lived and worked. After three years of successful runs in Kansas, Chief LaMunyon presented his idea to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which endorsed Special Olympics as its official charity through the Torch Run. Today, all 50 states and over 40 countries have their own versions of the Torch Run.