The Ventura Police Department will be sponsoring the Special Olympics “Tip-A-Cop” event on Thursday, May 9, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at California Pizza Kitchen at 3301 E. Main St. in Ventura (805) 477-9925. The restaurant is located at the Pacific View Mall.
Tip-A-Cop is a law enforcement fundraising event in which police officers assist with waiting tables at a local restaurant and collect “tip” donations for the Special Olympics. For over twenty years the Ventura Police Department has been involved in the Tip-A-Cop program.
Community members are encouraged to come and support the event by dining out and meeting local Special Olympics Athletes and Ventura Police Officers as they act as “celebrity servers” while assisting California Pizza Kitchen servers throughout the evening. While tips to restaurant servers are encouraged, envelopes will be provided to dining patrons to give to the cause. Officers will also be accompanied by Ventura County Special Olympics Athletes who help serve food and sell t-shirts. Athletes are excited to meet community members and share their Special Olympics experiences.
“We look forward to another successful year and to our continued partnership with the Special Olympics of Ventura County. We appreciate our partnership with California Pizza Kitchen in supporting these special athletes,” said Officer Bernadette Compean.
For over twenty years, Ventura County law enforcement agencies have been raising funds in support of the Special Olympics Ventura County. The fundraising events support year-round sports training and competition to over 700 individuals with intellectual disabilities, ages eight years and up, free of charge, in seventeen sports at over forty training sites throughout Ventura County.
“The Special Olympians’ courage, perseverance and positive attitude while facing challenges has been very inspiring over these years. They are the ones that make this event so great. The athletes teach us all to accept and include each other. My next-door neighbor is a Special Olympian and this is the highlight of his year. It makes him so happy to spend time with our officers and participate in the event. It’s his attitude that really makes it so special for our team,” stated Community Outreach Specialist Ashley Bautista.
