LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUNFOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS MINNESOTA

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN

The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is a movement of law enforcement personnel championing inclusion in their communities. LETR is represented in all 50 U.S. states, Canadian provinces and 46 nations with 97,000 officers around the world, raising more than three quarters of a billion dollars since its inception in 1981. Minnesota has one of the most successful programs in the world, with more than 1,500 volunteers raising $4.8 million in 2019.

Every year, Law Enforcement volunteers donate their time, talent and resources to a variety of Special Olympics Minnesota events. The LETR movement is essential to the success of Special Olympics Minnesota. LETR hopes to have a representative from every agency across the state to help spread the reach of the movement.

WHAT IS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN?

$4.8MILLION

raised by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for

Special Olympics Minnesota in 2019

1,500LAW ENFORCEMENT

personnel involved in the Law Enforcement Torch

Run in Minnesota

WHAT IS SPECIAL OLYMPICS MINNESOTA?Special Olympics Minnesota is changing the game for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Through its athletic, health, school and leadership programs, Special Olympics Minnesota empowers people to transform themselves, their communities and the world.

Every year, Special Olympics Minnesota hosts over 90 sporting events throughout the state. From bocce ball to flag football to snowshoeing, there are opportunities for everyone to get involved!

8,100

4,500

17

ATHLETESfrom across the state

participating in sports and leadership programs

VOLUNTEERSannually who make the world a better, healthier

and more joyful place

SPORTSoffered every year

throughout every season

POLAR PLUNGE PLANE PULLThe Polar Plunge is Special Olympics Minnesota’s biggest fundraiser of the year. You can be involved by taking the Plunge with your coworkers, family and friends! LETR volunteers are also needed to help with a variety of volunteer roles at every Plunge.

With over 21 locations to choose from, there’s bound to be a Plunge near you! Visit plungemn.org to learn more.

Teams gather at MSP airport for their chance to pull a 60,000 pound Delta jet across the tarmac to support Special Olympics Minnesota at the annual Plane Pull event. Teams fundraise to participate and compete to see who can pull the plane the fastest.

Form a Plane Pull team with your agency to compete against other public safety teams from across the state.

FINAL LEGEvery year, Law Enforcement agencies carry the Flame of Hope a combined 925 miles across Minnesota, culminating at the Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games.

Along with running, Torch Run volunteers sell t-shirts to generate revenue and awareness for the organization.

FUNDRAISEHOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

LETR MERCH

COP ON TOP TIP-A-COPGiving a whole new meaning to protect and “serve". At Tip-A-Cop fundraisers officers serve as celebrity waiters at restaurants and donate all the tips they receive to Special Olympics Minnesota. Tip-A-Cop fundraisers are a fun and easy way for officers to raise money and the public loves to have the officers wait on them at their favorite restaurants.

During Cop on Top fundraisers, law enforcement officers hang out on top of the roofs of local businesses, grocery stores and restaurants to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Minnesota. Customers and passerbys are encouraged to make a donation, often in exchange for a coupon to the local business.

FUNDRAISEHOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

AGENCY HOSTED EVENTSWork with LETR staff to create your own event to help raise money for our Special Olympics Minnesota athletes:

• Golf tournament• 5K Fun Run• Fishing Derby • Softball tournament• Fitness competition• Get creative!

VOLUNTEERHOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED?

VOLUNTEER WITH A TEAMYou can be a part of your local team by volunteering as a coach or Unified partner. Coaches lead and train teams in one of 17 different sports. Unified partners are individuals without intellectual disabilities who play on a team alongside Special Olympics athletes. Coaches and Unified partners give Special Olympics athletes the most immediate awareness of their own worth, ability, courage and capacity to grow and improve.

Anyone with passion and kindness can be a part of a Special Olympics Minnesota team. No prior sports knowledge or experience is needed!

VOLUNTEER AT A COMPETITIONEvery year there are over 90 Special Olympics Minnesota events, made possible by thousands of day-of volunteers. These events range from smaller local competitions to large state-wide events.

From handing out medals to keeping score, there are a variety of volunteer roles available at every event.

All day-of volunteers will be trained on location; no prior experience or knowledge is necessary.

I’ve felt unconditional love and acceptance at every Special Olympics

event I’ve been to.

In the four decades I’ve been involved, I’ve seen officers f rom across

Minnesota create arguably the most inclusive and engaged team of law

enforcement officers and athletes in the world.

-Kevin TorgersonOlmsted County Sheriff

Sheriff Kevin Torgerson (Left) carrying the Flame of Hope into the 2018 Summer Games.

MINNESOTA

TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE, VISIT

SOMN.ORG/LETR