The joined 130 Illinois law enforcement agencies Friday in raising more than $225,000 for Special Olympics Illinois.
According to a Daily Herald report, the departments set a fundraising record for "Cop on Rooftop," an annual event that heightens awareness and raises money for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The same event brought in $216,000 last year.
Lemont police also surpassed their own record Friday, raising $5,982.24 after nine hours at Dunkin' Donuts, 12371 Derby Road. The department raised a total of $6,502.24 through additional donations and the sale of Torch Run products.
Lemont raised more than $5,000 last year, making it the second-most successful event in the state.
This year, Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy, Mayor Brian Reaves, Trustee Cliff Miklos, Principal Debra Lynch, Principal Cathy Slee and Lemont Junior Woman's Club Vice President Jill McAndrews each spent at least an hour on the rooft at Dunkin' Donuts while officers collected money along Derby Road and Archer Avenue.
Lemont residents Lyle Kane, 23, and Isaac Zibell, 14, were also on hand to collect donations and represent Special Olympics Illinois.
The Cop on Rooftop fundraiser has grown considerably since it begain in 2003. That year, 12 police departments participated and raised $20,000.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run was founded in 1986, and has since raised nearly $25 million while raising awareness for Special Olympics Illinois athletes. The Torch Run has set a goal of raising $3 million in 2012.
Special Olympics Illinois is a non-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for nearly 21,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 6,000 young athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. The first Special Olympics games were held at Soldier Field in July, 1968.
Today, the program now is in more than 170 countries.
To learn more about Special Olympics Illinois, visit www.soill.org.
Anyone wishing to donate money or purchase Torch Run merchandise can bring a check to the Lemont Police Department, 14600 127th St. Checks should be made payable to Special Olympics.
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