MUSCATINE, Iowa–Though the Dunkin’ store in Muscatine does not quite have the sort of roof that lends itself to the annual Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser, it has never stopped members of the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office and the Muscatine Police Department from coming out and raising money for Special Olympics Aug. 19. A true community effort, this year’s Cop on a Rooftop brought many different people and organizations together to support all the sports and opportunities for growth Special Olympics offers its members.
Even before the fundraiser started, quick thinking and help from Muscatine High School student Jimena Frausto allowed the event to go on as planned. When the banner the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office ordered for Cop on a Rooftop got lost in the mail, she created several colorful poster board signs to help bring attention to the event.
Through out the day, Sheriff Quinn Riess, Sargent Willie Leza, Detective Sargent Jake McCleary, and Deputy Austin Sink from the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office; Lieutenant Vincent Motto, Officer Andy Fry, and Office Sam Wheeler of the Muscatine Police Department; and Special Olympics Interim Director Tim Akins along with athletes Travis Moss, Adam Rininger, and Angela Collins led the Cop on a Rooftop efforts at Dunkin’, encouraging people to donate to Special Olympics and passing out coupons for a free coffee or donut to anyone that did. To help generate even more excitement around the fundraiser, Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark and Muscatine Community Y Director Bret Olson also stopped out.
Through donations to the countertop change jar, Cop on a Rooftop brought in $529.87 for Special Olympics of Muscatine County. Leza anticipates that number increasing when Dunkin’ provides Special Olympics with the funds its raised through donation roundups on purchases.
Leza has helped fundraise for Special Olympics for years and felt glad that the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office could support local athlete’s through this year’s Cop on a Rooftop: “Any time that the Sheriff’s Office can help out the Special Olympics, or any other non-profit in our community, it’s a good feeling. We have been partners with the Special Olympics for decades now, and it’s rewarding to help the athletes achieve their athletic goals.”
Leza also welcomed the opportunity to do in person fundraising for Special Olympics once more and to meet with some of the Special Olympics athletes in person, things he sorely missed doing during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I enjoyed getting to see citizens and supporters in person again, he said. “COVID changed and stopped so many activities and events for the athletes that I was afraid we wouldn’t get back to being us, but it seems like we have.”
