Over the past four decades, law enforcement, through the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics has worked to improve the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. We have witnessed acts of kindness, leadership, and perseverance from the 110,000+ members of the law enforcement community from around the world, at tens of thousands of events in support of our athletes.
As the Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement volunteers contribute countless hours each year, generate ongoing awareness about our mission, and secure crucial grassroots resources. Members of law enforcement are also Special Olympics parents, coaches, volunteers, and Unified partners.
There continue to be opportunities to use our combined voices to make critical strides towards true inclusion in every community. Special Olympics is proud of our relationship with the Law Enforcement Torch Run® and grateful for their support that makes much of our mission possible.
Thank you Publix Supermarkets!!
We are pleased to announce that Publix Supermarkets has again raised the bar for the athletes of Special Olympics Georgia! Through the generous efforts of over 200 Stores in Georgia asking for donations from customers in exchange for Paper Torch Icons, Publix Supermarkets was able to raise over $1,000,000 for the 18,546 athletes of Special Olympics Georgia!!! WOW!!! On behalf of every athlete in Georgia, THANK YOU PUBLIX!!!
About
The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is the largest annual fundraising event benefiting Special Olympics Georgia. This signature event plays a significant role in Special Olympics Georgia’s annual budget.
The LETR involves more than 1,000 law enforcement officers from over 100 agencies who take part in a 1,000 mile, two week torch relay to pass the Special Olympics Georgia “Flame of Hope” across the State. All of the 11 relays converge at Emory University (Atlanta) during the State Summer Games Opening Ceremony.
The Torch Run culminates at the State Summer Games as officers enter the Opening Ceremony with the Olympic Torch – the Flame of Hope. The Torch is passed to a Special Olympics athlete who lights the Olympic cauldron signifying “Let the games begin!”
The History
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, the largest grassroots fundraising program for the cause, began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas Police Chief Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics.
The idea for the Torch Run was to provide local law enforcement officers with an opportunity to volunteer with Special Olympics in the communities where the officers lived and worked. After three years of successful runs in Kansas, Chief LaMunyon presented his idea to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which endorsed Special Olympics as its official charity through the Torch Run. Today, all 50 states and over 40 countries have their own versions of the Torch Run.
In Georgia, the first Torch Run was organized in 1986 and has grown into the largest fundraising effort of Special Olympics Georgia. The Torch Run has continued to reach new records in fundraising efforts each year. Along with being the premier fundraising event for SOGA, it is also the most visible event in Special Olympics.
For more information, please contact:
Meredith Elizabeth-Crum
Torch Run and Events Manager
(229) 834-8277
mec@specialolympicsga.org
LETR Presenting Sponsor: Publix Supermarkets
Publix was founded in 1930 by Mr. George Jenkins in Winter Haven, Florida. It is the largest employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States with over 125,000 employees who work in stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. Publix is listed by Fortune Magazine as one of the “Most Admired Companies” (February 2001) and one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” (Jan. 2000). Publix is the Presenting Sponsor of the Special Olympics Georgia Law Enforcement Torch Run. For several years, Publix and its associates have supported SOGA by selling paper torches at the cash register. There are more than 170 Publix Supermarkets in Georgia and our athletes are employed at many of these stores.