Tip-A-Cop To Benefit Special Olympics Of Oregon At Old Spaghetti Factory Aug. 16

CLACKAMAS, OR — Eat spaghetti, tip a cop, and support the Special Olympics of Oregon next Wednesday at Old Spaghetti Factory locations throughout the Portland metro region and beyond.

On Aug. 16, from 5 p.m. to close at Spaghetti Factories in Clackamas, Corvallis, Sherwood, Tanasbourne, and on Portland's downtown waterfront, representatives from multiple sheriff's agencies — including the Washington and Clackamas county sheriff's offices — will help entertain guests and more as part of a fundraising event benefiting the Special Olympics.

Deputies from local Sheriff's offices will help seat and visit with dining guests, buss tables, pose for pictures, and talk about the great programs offered by the Special Olympics of Oregon while accepting donations on the organization's behalf.

Similar events supporting other charitable causes are hosted by many of the 44 Old Spaghetti Factory locations across the country, according to Spaghetti Factory spokesman Ryan Durrett, but this specific event will be the first Tip-a-Cop hosted by Old Spaghetti Factory restaurants in Oregon — the company's home state.

"In a few of those markets we've been able to support causes through tip-a-cop and tip-a-firefighter events," he explained. "So, we're excited to bring families and local law enforcement together to raise awareness for Special Olympic of Oregon."

According to sheriff's officials, Tip-a-Cop is an extension of the Law Enforcement Torch Run campaign, for which more than 144,000 officers around the world participate in international relay runs and other special events to help raise money and awareness for the Special Olympics.

"We value the special athletes, and anything we can do to support community members with special needs — we do," said Sgt. Brian Jensen, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, whose deputies will post up at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Clackamas, located at 12725 S.E. 93rd Ave.

Jensen also mentioned that CCSO deputies host a Springtime Tip-a-Cop fundraiser at the Clackamas Town Center Claim Jumper restaurant.

Washington County Sheriff's spokesman Dep. Jeff Talbot told Patch that WCSO deputies, civilian employees, and search and rescue team members will hand out stickers and swag as well as serve dinners at the Tanasbourne Spaghetti Factory in Hillsboro, located at 18925 N.W. Tanasbourne Dr.

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office will not participate formally in the Aug. 16 event, according to MCSO spokesman Sgt. Bryan White, though a handful of deputies may show up and spend time greeting guests during the event's time slot. Tips collected that evening, however, will still be donated to the Special Olympics.

White noted how the MCSO participates in Special Olympic fundraisers each Fall at Tip-a-Cop events held at Red Robin locations in Gresham and at Mall 205.

Patch has reached out to representatives of the Special Olympics of Oregon and the Old Spaghetti Factory. This post will be updated if they respond.

Image: Clackamas County Sheriff's Office