The Gastonia Police Department enjoyed two extraordinarily successful fundraising initiatives in November and December: No Shave November and Shop with a Cop.
No Shave November drew 92 participants and raised about $3,680 for Special Olympics North Carolina, the most popular SONC fundraiser of the year, according to Sgt. Scott Norton, chairman of GPD’s Special Olympics Fundraising Committee. Combined with the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Burpee-thon, the committee has raised a total of about $9,000 this year for SONC, a record setting year!
In the Shop with a Cop event on the Saturday morning of Dec. 9, 50 happy children went shopping with 55 Gastonia Police officers. Initially plans were to give the children $250 each to spend at Target, but that amount was increased
to $350 after truly amazing fundraising results! About $18,000 was raised through ornament sales, grants and private donations, according to Amanda Neese, GPD’s Problem Analysis & Research Center director, who also serves as advisor to the Gastonia Police Foundation.
No Shave November drew 92 participants and raised about $3,680 for Special Olympics North Carolina, the most popular SONC fundraiser of the year, according to Sgt. Scott Norton, chairman of GPD’s Special Olympics Fundraising Committee. Combined with the Law Enforcement Torch Run and the Burpee-thon, the committee has raised a total of about $9,000 this year for SONC, a record setting year!
In the Shop with a Cop event on the Saturday morning of Dec. 9, 50 happy children went shopping with 55 Gastonia Police officers. Initially plans were to give the children $250 each to spend at Target, but that amount was increased
to $350 after truly amazing fundraising results! About $18,000 was raised through ornament sales, grants and private donations, according to Amanda Neese, GPD’s Problem Analysis & Research Center director, who also serves as advisor to the Gastonia Police Foundation.The Gastonia Police Foundation has spearheaded Shop with a Cop for three years and its members include Erin Flitt, president; David Ferguson, vice president; Steve Driscoll, treasurer; Steven Long, secretary; Jay Falls; Chuck Niemeyer; Billy BouKather; David Conner; Sam Robinson; Chris Tolbert; Mike Gibson; Anne Schenk; Wesley Styers; and Capt. Mike Lari, executive director.
GPD’s Special Olympics Fundraising Committee members include Aaron Wurster, Emily Burr, Laura Burton, Nancy Capistran, Thomas Doby, Cody Edge, Adam Hudson, Stephanie Jamoulis, Daniel Lane, Sgt. Eric Nelson, Jackie Quinley, David Whitlock and Adam Wilson.
TOP PHOTO: Some No Shave November participants gathered recently for a group photo. They are, back row left to right, Officers Phillip Smith and Eddie Lovingood, Chief Robert Helton, Public Works and Utilities Director Matt Bernhardt, City Attorney Ash Smith, Councilman Jim Gallagher, City Manager Michael Peoples, Division Manager of Public Works Dale Denton, and Officer Drew Denton. Front row, left to right, Officers Kevin Putnam, Jason Sarratt, Jordan Reese, and Sgt. Scott Norton.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Officer Carmelitha Whitlock Almond with her shopping companion in the Shop with a Cop event on Dec. 9 at Target.
PREVIOUS PAGE: Officer Dylan Rice with his shopping companion in the Shop with a Cop event at Target.
Dec. 14, 2017