Beaufort Police, Chick-fil-A raise over $4K for Special Olympics

By Joan McDonough

June 14, 2017 4:00 PM

Beaufort Police Department and Chick-fil-A raised nearly $4,200 for Special Olympics South Carolina during the Cops on the Coop fundraiser on Friday. They handed over the giant check Wednesday morning at the Boundary Street restaurant. Left to right: Douglas Kahn, a coordinator of the event; Darla Ballard, Chick-fil-A manager; Garrett Morgan, Chick-fil-A manager; Police Chief Matt Clancy; Special Olympics bowling and track athlete AJ Lehe; JT Del Valle, Special Olympics coach and mother to an athlete; Beaufort Police Inv. Stephanie Karafa; Amy Gege, marketing and development for Special Olympics South Carolina. Joan McDonough

The Beaufort Police Department and Chick-fil-A raised nearly $4,200 for Special Olympics South Carolina during the Cops on the Coop fundraiser.

Police collected donations at the Boundary Street restaurant on Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Diners could contribute donations of any amount, but a $20 donation would get contributors a 2018 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics T-shirt and a coupon for a free chicken sandwich, said police investigator Stephanie Karafa.

Many people came to the restaurant not knowing about the fundraiser ahead of time and added a few extra dollars to their bill to help out, Karafa said.

There are over 25,500 Special Olympics athletes in South Carolina who participate in 26 different sports at the games, according to a police department news release.

Joan McDonough: 843-706-8125, @IPBG_Joan

This story was originally published June 14, 2017 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Beaufort Police, Chick-fil-A raise over $4K for Special Olympics."

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