September 19, 2008
There’s a Cop on Top of my grocery store
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I have a tremendous amount of respect for those who dedicate themselves to the service of others, police officers included. Today I was reminded that many of them serve above and beyond the job requirements, going to extraordinary lengths in support of our communities. Officer Corrine is on of many police officers around the state who are spending three days sitting on top of Safeway stores to stimulate awarness of Special Olympics Hawaii. Last year the Cop on Top program raised $230,000. They hope to do even better this year.
The sloped roof of the Safeway at Kapolei could have presented a problem for the event planners, but they found a resourceful way around the problem. Officer Corrine’s tent is actually pitched on a platform atop scaffolding abutting the roof, but that’s close enough for me. She ascended to her airy loft this morning as the sun was rising and will stay there until Saturday evening. A ground crew of her fellow officers and Special Olympics volunteers are supporting her efforts, collecting donations and passing out literature and tee shirts. Some of the Special Olympics athletes are taking time out of their busy work, school and training schedules to meet and greet the public and assist in the fundraiser, too.
The Cop on Top progam and other fundraisers are more important than ever this year. Our Department of Education, in its infinite wisdom, recently cut all funding for Special Oylmpics, while leaving intact the sports programs for “regular” students. They apparently neglected to do their own homework before taking this drastic action:
Less than 10% of people with ID (intellectual disabilities) in the US are employed, as compared to 50% of Special Olympics athletes of working age who are employed. This is a direct result of the fact that Special Olympics is not just sports. Through our program, our athletes learn to follow rules, develop self-esteem and self confidence; they learn how to be a part of a team. In a Yale University study, it was proven that children perform better at school, at home, and at work the longer they participate in Special Olympics.
Because of this cut, special education students will be left on the sidelines, unable to participate in school sports. These students deserve – they have the right – to the same sports opportunities as their non-disabled peers. Discriminating against the students with intellectual disabilities cannot be overlooked. It is wrong morally. It is wrong ethically. And it is wrong legally.
I’m appealing to all of my local readers. Go to Special Olympic Hawaii and read the remainder of the article quoted above. At its conclusion you’ll find a list of Hawaii’s Board of Education members, along with their contact information. Make a few phone calls or write a few letters. Make sure the DOE members know that their outrageous decision must not be allowed to stand. After you do that, go to the nearest supporting Safeway location (you’ll find a list on the Special Olympics site.) Talk with your Cop on Top and the ground crew. Get to know some special athletes. Then dig down deep and give what you can in support of this much-needed program. It’s one of the good things about Hawaii. Let’s all help keep it going.
Technorati Tags: charity, Cop on Top, Hawaii, Special Olympics
Posted by skeet @ 1:16 am • Charity
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September 19th, 2008 at 4:57 am, PSD RockStar Says:
Even I feel that we should respect those, who dedicate their lives for others without any selfish reason…
September 20th, 2008 at 6:21 pm, Hawaiian Special Olympians discriminated against | I know EVERYTHING - just ask my hubby. Says:
[…] reading a post on Skeet’s blog and an article on the Special Olympics Hawaii website tonight I learned that the Hawaii Board of […]