Cop on Top was highly successful, thanks to the police officers, Special Olympics West Hawaii athletes, volunteers, sponsors and the public. The fundraiser raised reportedly more than $12,000. Hooray!
Here is a mahalo note from SOWH Area Director Dave Ross:
Nothin’ but love to everyone. I am so stoked at how Cop on Top went. It was an amazing success and everyone who had a hand in this should feel great. We raised great cash, met new volunteers and athletes, had great community presence and had a truckload of fun. Hooray to Walter, Sam, Sean, Rollin (gimpy shoulder and all) and all the other officers who made this event a success.
Mahalo to: KC for staffing this thing; the Dungates for kicking butt Saturday on dawn patrol; the Cleintaurs for kicking us off full force Tuesday morning; the Knights of Columbus and the Extor clan for working the pau hana parties; Lona for pulling mass double shifts; Doreen for jazzing up the joint with awesome graphics; Barbara Bach for the endless smiles and energy; Shane’s “bow technique” with a proud Madelyn by his side; Ray for coming straight from work with Mary; Kelly for dancing up a storm; the West Hawaii Today squad for the great press; and Ronona for jamming straight from the water to the buckets.
I couldn’t ask to work with a better group of people. We are all different, but unify so well for our common cause — to make the lives of our athletes and their families better through sports and community involvement.
Mahalo for all that participated. I love you all and cherish your efforts. Be well. Let’s have a great fall.
Here’s another thank you note and photos from longtime SOWH volunteer Nikki Cleintuar:
Dave is so right about the unity, common cause and, most of all, the athletes. It’s a labor of love for all of us. That said, without Dave’s leadership, his unbridled optimism, his determination, his inability to say “can’t” and his willingness to do whatever it takes, it never would have happened. So a round of applause goes to our intrepid area director. YAY!!!
Another round of applause goes to our helpers outside the organization. This includes Sgt. Walter AhMow; Sgt. Rollin Rabara; Sgt. Sean Smith; Lt. Sam Kawamoto; the community policing officers and those who did Keiki ID; John Perillo, manager of Safeway, and the Safeway employees; Birdie Fawzi & Coca Cola Bottling of Hawaii; HPM; Denny’s Restaurant; Carolyn Lucas; Kat and KWXX Radio; West Hawaii Today; Chris with the public announcement system; Dave Huerta; Knights of Columbus; and all the participating businesses and individuals that donated.
Hulali is one of the many Safeway employees and management personnel who worked extra duty with grace and enthusiam to support Cop On Top.
SOWH Area Director Dave Ross is tired, but happy after a successful fundraiser.
SOWH volunteer Doreen Parker created a photo display of our athletes competing at the recent Aukake Classic, a soccer and boccee tournament on Oahu, for Cop On Top. Donors were able to get a visual idea of how the funds raised are spent.
Volunteer Eric Cleintuar (SOWH athlete Adrian Cleintuar’s dad) and Ronona Della Cioppa (SOWH coach Lona Warner’s daughter) secure the beautiful balloon arch created by Safeway employee Hulali in the store’s floral department.
From the left: Volunteer Eric Cleintuar and SOWH athletes Jason Nagatori and Ray Donager helped pack up after Cop on Top ended Saturday.
