For Immediate Release

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Gloucester Police Department Donates More Than $3,000 to the Special Olympics

GLOUCESTER — Chief Leonard Campanello is pleased to announce that the Gloucester Police Department donated $3,031 to the Special Olympics as a result of the department’s participation in the “Growing Hair ‘Cus We Care” initiative. 

Twenty-six members of the Gloucester Police Department participated in the event from Nov. 1 to Feb. 7, which allowed officers to

grow neatly trimmed beards and facial hair for a $100 donation to the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) of Massachusetts. Civilians also matched donations from officers, which contributed to the over $3,000 sum. Christina Melillo, an employee of the department and Finance and Fundraising Chair for the Cape Ann Division of Special Olympics, participated by shaving the side of her head and dying it with the LETR symbol.

All proceeds from donations will help to provide uniforms, sports equipment and facilities for Special Olympic athletes. Gloucester is part of the brand new Cape Ann Division of the Special Olympics.

“I am so proud of this department for raising as much money as they did for such a great cause,” Chief Campanello said. “We are always looking for ways to get involved and this was a fun way to give back to the community and show our support for these young athletes and the Special Olympics.”

The department is in the process of planning other events to raise money, including a “Tip-A-Cop” event, where officers act as celebrity waitstaff working for “tips” that are actually donations to the Special Olympics. 

For more information about the Special Olympics or how to get involved, please contact Christina Melillo at cmelillo@gloucester-ma.gov.

About The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics:

The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a year-round fundraising and awareness building program, designed to give members of the law enforcement community the opportunity to support Special Olympics athletes who live, work and compete in their local communities.

In 1981, Wichita, Kan. Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to increase awareness and support of Special Olympics, and started the program, which was quickly adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. What began simply as escorting the Flame of Hope to the Opening Ceremonies of the summer games, winter games, and all other athletic competitions, turned into one of the largest grassroots fundraising programs in the organization. Today, all 50 states and more than 35 countries actively participate in the LETR program.

In Massachusetts, more than 1,000 members of the state’s Law Enforcement community participate in events organized through the LETR program.

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