By Jason Emerson
editor
Cazenovia police officers raised more than $1,700 last week when they partnered with the local Dunkin Donuts on Albany Street to give away free coffee and T-shirts to raise awareness and funds to support the Special Olympics of New York.
Cazenovia Police Chief Michael Hayes and officers Rich Bennett, Tom Engelman, Krystyna Rottella, Dan Slator and Will Stevens teamed up with Cazenovia Dunkin Donuts Assistant Manager Hazel Mauzy and local Special Olympics athletes Lindsay Mitchell and Stacey Weimer last Friday, Aug. 5, and gave away coupons for a free coffee or donut with any donation; an official “Cops on Top” T-shirt and a free coffee or donut with a donation of $20 or more; and a T-shirt, free pound of coffee and free donut or coffee with a donation of $50 or more.
Also participating at the Cazenovia location was the Madison County Sheriff’s Office Safetypup, a superhero costume clad puppy who helps with child safety education through the National Child Safety Council.
All funds raised will be donated to benefit the 65,665 athletes of Special Olympics New York. More than two dozen Dunkin locations and police departments participated across Central New York, including Chittenango, Clay, Cicero, DeWitt, East Syracuse, Liverpool, Manlius, Fayetteville, Mattydale and the city of Syracuse.
Last year, approximately $33,000 was raised through the program; this year’s numbers were not available as of press time.
The Cazenovia fundraising goal was to raise more than they did last year, which was a nearly $1,900. While they came in a bit short of their goal, they still raised $1,725.71, Hayes said.
“It’s a great community policing event and once again proves how generous the Cazenovia community is,” Hayes said. “It lets people realize the Cazenovia Police Department is part of the community.”
The purpose of the Cops on Top fundraiser is to bring attention to the fact that there are 64,659 Special Olympics athletes in New York state — that is the largest chapter in North America and the fifth largest in the world. The funds raised help support all the New York athletes who benefit from year-round training and competition at no charge to them, according to organization information.
