On Friday, May 22, beginning at 5 a.m., hundreds of police officers from throughout the state are scheduled to cover more than 97 Dunkin' Donuts rooftops to heighten awareness and raise money for the 24th Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Illinois Torch Run Director and Channahon Police Chief Joe Pena says that despite the economy, "I'm very optimistic that the good customers of Dunkin' Donuts and our always dedicated Special Olympics supporters will contribute to another record year for this event." The stakes for this year's rooftop stakeout are high…donations will need to top last year's total of $144,000 raised at 68 Dunkin' Donuts locations. "Support of Special Olympics is as strong as ever," Pena continued, "and the police officers in this state are an extremely committed bunch, participating in events that support our athletes year-round. Last year, we were the 5th highest grossing Torch Run program in the world."
In return for the police officers doing time at their stores, Dunkin' Donuts will donate $10,000 to the Torch Run fund. In addition, everyone who visits a Cop on a Rooftop store that day and makes a donation to the Torch Run will receive a free donut. Persons who donate at least $10 will receive a Law Enforcement Torch Run travel mug and coupon for free medium coffee. Other items, such as Torch Run T-shirts and hats, will be sold for various donation amounts.
The event will begin at 5 a.m. and run through early afternoon at all locations including Addison, Aurora , Cicero , Fox Lake , Hoffman Estates, Lombard, Palos Heights , Peoria , St. Charles and South Elgin . In some cases, mayors and other local officials will join police officers on the store roofs. Additional special activities will vary by store. A list of all participating Dunkin' Donuts locations is available on www.soill.org. The Special Olympics fund-raiser has grown considerably since police officers first took to Dunkin' Donuts rooftops in 2003. That year, 12 police departments participated and raised $20,000.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run was started in 1986. Each year, more than 3,000 officers cover 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope through the streets of their hometowns and to the State Summer Games in Normal in June. It is the single largest year-round fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Illinois. The intrastate relay and its various fundraising projects have two goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics. Last year, the Torch Run raised more than $2.2 million for Special Olympics Illinois.
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for more than 22,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family support. The first Special Olympics games were held at Soldier Field in July, 1968; the program now is in more than 180 countries. If you're interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteer ing or providing financial support to help make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or visit the web site at soill.org.
PARTICIPATING DUNKIN DONUTS:
May 22, 2009 Cop on a Rooftop Dunkin' Donuts Store Locations
1. Addison: 33 E. Lake Street
2. Addison: 1750 W. Lake St .
3. Arlington Heights: 122 S. Arlington Heights Road
4. Aurora: 2380 S. Eola
5. Aurora: 1237 N. Eola
6. Aurora: 2933 Kirk Rd.
7. Aurora: 1255 N. Farnsworth
8. Aurora: 2112 W. Galena Blvd.
9. Bloomingdale: 169 E. Lake S t .
10. Bloomington: 2306 E. Oakland Ave. (week of June 7)
11. Broadview: 1940 Roosevelt Rd.
12. Burbank: 8049 S. Harlem Ave.
13. Carol Stream: 880 W. Army Trail Road
14. Carpentersville: 2270 Randall Rd
15. Champaign: 515 S. Neil
16. Chicago: 2477 Archer
17. Chicago: 5200 N. Lincoln
18. Chicago: 3210 W. 87th St .
19. Chicago: 3310 W. Addison
20. Chicago: 2801 S. Kedzie
21. Chicago: 6342 N. Milwaukee
22. Chicago: 4957 S. Central
23. Chicago: 500 W. Madison
24. Chicago: 5650 W. Fullerton
25. Chicago: 5615 S. Harlem
26. Chicago: 333 S. State
27. Chicago: 901 E. Washington
28. Cicero: 2147 S. Cicero
29. Country Club Hills: 4021 W. 183rd St .
30. Crestwood: 13661 Cicero Ave.
31. Deerfield: 499 Lake Cook Rd.
32. Dolton: 1136 E. Sibley
33. Downers Grove: 1931 W. Ogden
34. East Dundee: 892 S. Main S t .
35. Elmhurst: 506 W. North Avenue
36. Elmhurst: 195 E. Butterfield Rd.
37. Elgin: 263 S. Randall
38. Evanston: 1900 Dempster
39. Fox Lake: 5 E. Grand Ave.
40. Glen Ellyn: 22W251 North Ave.
41. Glenview: 1750 Milwaukee Avenue
42. Hoffman Estates: 1165 N. Barrington Rd.
43. Homewood: 17579 Halsted
44. Huntley: 12090 Princeton Drive
45. Joliet: 20 S. Larkin Avenue
46. Joliet: 3011 Plainfield Rd.
47. Joliet: 2959 W. Jefferson
48. Lemont: 12371 Derby Road
49. Lombard: 1160 S. Main Street
50. McHenry: 4502 W. Elm Street
51. Minooka: 106 N. Ridge Rd.
52. Minooka: 2081 Ridge Rd.
53. Montgomery: 1601 Douglas Rd.
54. Mount Prospect: 1001 S. Busse Rd.
55. Mount Prospect: 820 E. Rand Rd.
56. Mundelein: 722 S. Route 83
57. Mundelein: 346 N. Lake St .
58. Mundelein: 2250 S. Route 83
59. Naperville: 811 E. Ogden
60. Naperville: 1201 S. Naper Blvd.
61. Naperville: 1991 Brookdale Rd.
62. New Lenox: 970 Laraway Rd.
63. Niles: 7039 Dempster
64. Niles: 7525 Harlem
65. North Aurora: 407 S. Lincolnway
66. Orland Park: 14461 LaGrange Rd.
67. Oswego: 4032 Route 34
68. Palatine: 801 E. Dundee
69. Palos Heights: 12807 S. Harlem
70. Peoria: 3428 N. University Street
71. Peoria: 613 N. Western Ave.
72. Peoria: 1600 N. Knoxville Ave.
73. Peoria: 4525 N. Sterling Ave.
74. Rantoul: 402 S. Century Blvd.
75. Richton Park: 3937 Sauk Trail
76. Round Lake Beach: 369 E. Rollins Rd.
77. Roselle: 253 E. Irving Park Road
78. Sauk Village: 2703 E. Sauk Trail
79. Schaumburg: 477 W. Golf Rd.
80. Schaumburg: 893 E. Schaumburg Rd.
81. St. Charles: 1711 W. Main St .
82. South Chicago Heights: 3225 Chicago Rd.
83. South Elgin: 514 Randall Road
84. South Holland: 460 E. 162nd Street
85. Summit: 6144 S. Harlem
86. Third Lake: 34484 N. US Hwy. 4
87. Tinley Park: 7935 W. 171st St .
88. Vernon Hills: 700 N. Milwaukee
89. West Chicago: 110 W. Roosevelt Rd.
90. West Chicago: 185 W. North Avenue
91. Willowbrook: 7247 Kingery Hwy.
92. Winfield: 27W095 Geneva Road
93. Wood Dale: 516 W. Irving Park Rd.
94. Woodridge: 1920 87th Street
95. Woodridge: 2401 W. 75th Street
96. Woodstock: 339 S. Eastwood
97. Yorkville: 1604 N. Bridge St .
