Diner Drops $1K Gratuity at Pleasanton Tip-A-Cop Fundraiser

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

A hefty $1,000 tip left last night during the annual Tip-A-Cop fundraiser at Chili's in Pleasanton will go toward the programs supporting Special Olympics athletes in Northern California.

Despite the fact that it was not a large Friday night crowd at the Chili's in Pleasanton, volunteers from the Special Olympics of Northern California, along with officers from the Pleasanton Police Department, garnered over $2100 during the popular fundraiser.

[Related article: Join Pleasanton Police for 'Tip-A-Cop' Fundraiser]

“The community and law enforcement support at the Tip-a-Cops is amazingly overwhelming,” Special Olympics spokesperson Anna Oleson-Wheeler said. “The fact that someone could be so generous to leave a $1,000 tip to benefit our athletes is truly heartwarming. All of the 16,000 athletes in Northern California compete for free because of donations at events like Thursday’s Tip-a-Cop. We thank the officers for running the Tip-a-Cops and all who attended and donated to Special Olympics.”

All of the tips earned by the officers and volunteers who worked from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. will help to provide local Special Olympics athletes with free year-round sports training and competition opportunities in 11 different sports, according to the Northern California Special Olympics website.

Pleasanton Police Sergeant Pat Walsh, Officers Bradlee Middleton, Catrina Clark, Steve Ayers, and volunteers Pam Yeaw and Dave Ker participated in the fundraiser.

Other East Bay Chili's locations hosted the Tip-A-Cop event last night, including Livermore, Fremont and Concord.