PRESS

KIT

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The Illlinois Special Olympics and

Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run
Presents:

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Table of Contents

Contact
Information


Cover
Letter


Press
Release


Social
Media Release

Fact Sheet..


Biography
of Key Players


Event
Poster














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Contact Information

Lauren Vahldick
Program Director
(630) 808-7333

Dana Gleason
Media Relations Director
(708) 355-1815

Calysta Will
Event Coordinator
(847) 508-8360

Alina Crowley
Assistant Event Coordinator
(815) 216-8733

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Gary Sawyer
The Pantograph
Regional Editor
301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907
Bloomington, IL 61702-2907

Dear Mr. Sawyer,
My name is Dana Gleason and I am the director of media relations for Special Olympics Illinois. We are
partnering with the Normal police force and Dunkin Donuts in the area to host our annual event Cops on
Rooftops. The purpose of this event is to raise money and awareness of Special Olympics and The Illinois
Torch Run in the Bloomington Normal community. Special Olympics is a nonprofit organization that
provides individuals with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to train and compete in Olympic-type
sports. The Torch Run is an affiliate organization dedicated to fundraising and raising awareness for
Special Olympics Illinois.
From 6 AM to 6 PM at the Normal Dunkin Donuts on Main Street, members of the Normal Police
Department will be sitting on the roof of the building to raise awareness for Special Olympics. Our goal is
to raise $12,000 from this event, where all proceeds will go to Special Olympics and The Illinois Torch
Run. Each guest who donates at the Dunkin Donuts on Main Street will receive a coupon for a free
doughnut. Any donation of $10 or more, the customer will receive a free Law Enforcement Torch Run
travel mug and a coupon for a free medium coffee in addition to the doughnut coupon. There will be
merchandise, such as Torch Run t-shirts, hats and lapel pins, available to purchase at the store during
the event hours. In addition to supporting a good cause, guests of the event will have the opportunity to
speak with officers, listen to the on-location radio shows, and enjoy the Dunkin Donut products.
To ensure this event is successful, we need publicity from The Pantograph. Since your intended audience
is the Bloomington Normal community, your readers would be the perfect audience for Cops on
Rooftops.
For further information, I have included a press kit including a sample press release, background, and a
fact sheet about Special Olympics Illinois Cops on Rooftops event. I would be more than happy to
answer any additional questions you may have.
Thank you for your time and I appreciate your consideration for including a piece about this event in The
Pantograph.

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Dana Gleason
712 Kingsley St.
Normal, IL 61761
(708) 355-1815
dgleason@soill.org

Sincerely,

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dana Gleason 708-355-1815

dgleason@soill.org

NORMAL POLICE PAIRS WITH DUNKIN DONUTS

TO SUPPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS
NORMAL, Ill. Normal police officers and Dunkin Donuts are joining forces to raise money
for the Special Olympics Illinois on Friday, May 30.
For the 12th year officers of the Normal Police Department will be on the rooftop of Dunkin
Donuts on 1603 N. Main Street., Normal, in efforts to raise awareness and donations for the
Illinois Torch Run which benefits Special Olympics.
They will steak out on May 30 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. hoping to reach a goal of $12,000, which
will benefit the Illinois Torch Run and Special Olympics Illinois. B104 will be broadcasting live
on location from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and JD Justice and Faith Rinker will take over from 10 a.m. to
3 p.m. Dan Westoff will close the event broadcasting live from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Every customer who visits the Dunkin Donuts store and makes a donation will receive a coupon
for a free doughnut. For donations $10 or more, customers will receive a free Torch Run travel
mug and coupon for a free medium coffee. T-shirts, hats and pins will be available to purchase.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run is the single largest year-round fund-raising vehicle
benefitting Special Olympics Illinois. This intrastate relay and its various fundraisers have two
goals: to raise money and increase public awareness for the athletes of Special Olympics. Each
year, more than 3,000 officers in Illinois run more than 1,500 miles carrying the Flame of Hope
through the streets of their hometowns and deliver it to the State Summer Games in Normal on
June 14.
Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports
for nearly 21,500 Traditional Athletes with intellectual disabilities and more than 18,500 Young Athletes ages 2-7
with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics transforms the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities, allowing them to realize their full potential in sports and in life. Special Olympics programs enhance
physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills and encourage family and community support. If you are
interested in learning more about Special Olympics Illinois, volunteering or providing financial support to help
make Special Olympics programs possible, contact your local Special Olympics agency, call 800-394-0562 or visit
our website at www.soill.org.

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FACT SHEET

21,482 athletes (children and adults) with intellectual disabilities,

18,549 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities,

40,000 volunteers and coaches,

180 competitions each year,

19 Olympic-type sports.

Programs in 18 Areas, each coordinated by an Area Director and a volunteer

committee.

The Special Olympics if funded through an annual budget process, multiple

revenue streams, and donations.

Through Special Olympics Illinois, athletes are able to receive high-quality training
that also celebrates team and individual achievement.

Educates athletes with positive and effective training to apply to classroom and
community activities that can lead to friendships and acceptance.

Illinois Special Olympic oath: Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in
the attempt.

The Illinois Special Olympics strives to provide year-round, Olympic-type, sports

training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

These events give the participants; courage, opportunities to develop in physical

activates, happiness, enjoyment, and quality bonding time with their friends and
family.

The Special Olympics began in Illinois with the first games at Soldier Field in July

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This was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and her family.

1968.

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Team Members
Lauren Vahldick: Program Director
Lauren oversees the coordination and
administration of all aspects of Special
Olympics Illinois, including planning,
organizing, and leading the Cops on
Rooftop event. She schedules and
manages meetings, budgets and
controls finances, and oversees the
rest of the team. It is her responsibility
to make sure everything runs smoothly
and that everything and everyone is
accounted for.
Dana Gleason: Media Relations Director

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Dana is responsible for the Cops On

Rooftops publicity throughout the entire
event. She is the connection between
media outlets covering the event and the
organization. She writes all the press and
social media releases, as well as feature
stories for the event and organization.
Her focus is to create and maintain a
positive relationship between Cops On
Rooftops and the media.

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Calysta Will: Event Coordinator

Calystas position entails planning and
executing all Special Olympics Illinois
events in the central Illinois area. She
collaborates on ideas, and completes
tasks in order to create an event
within a given budget such as booking
locations, food, guests, entertainment
and incentives. She is responsible for
ensuring that events run smoothly by
creating a fun, safe environment.
Calysta works to bring awareness to
the community through coordinating and promoting events
for the organization.
Alina Crowley: Assistant Event Coordinator
Alina works with Calysta to carry out
Special Olympics Illinois events. Alina
works openly with outside companies
interested in getting further involved
with our events. She continuously
makes sure that the businesses are
staying in line within the guidelines of
the event. Furthermore, Alina is a
contact for volunteers and any general
questions for the event.
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Special Olympics Illlinois hosts

12th Annual:

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Normal Dunkin Donuts

1603 North Main Street
309-451-0200
All customers who visit this location will recieve
a free doughnut. For donations $10 or more will
recieve a travel mug and a coupon for a free
medium coffee. Proceeds will benefit the Illinois
Torch Run

Friday, May
30, 2014
6AM-6PM

Our Oath:

Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.