Badges and Buckets Fundraiser

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

Photo by Jack Kiyonaga.

Badges and Buckets, the three-day fundraiser for Special Olympics formerly known as Cop on Top, took place outside the Molokai Public Library from Wednesday to Friday last week. Off-duty police officers climbed the 10-foot scaffold over a dunk tank to create excitement around the event. Residents supported local Special Olympics athletes for a shot at dunking an officer. 

As of Friday morning, the fundraiser had reached over $7,000 of its $10,000 goal, according to  Rita Kalahiki, the area director for Special Olympics Molokai. 

Kalahiki has been involved with Special Olympics Molokai since 1989. Now she coordinates events and games for the group. The fundraiser will help support traveling in November for Special Olympics basketball. 

The Badges and Buckets fundraiser is a state-wide event, however, all money raised on Molokai goes to benefit Molokai athletes. 

“Our Badges and Buckets fundraiser provides grassroots support to our programs which promote inclusion and provides sports training, competition, health, wellness, and leadership opportunities for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities,” said
Special Olympics Hawaii’s President and CEO, Dan Epstein. “We are truly grateful for the dedication of all of our off-duty law enforcement volunteers and for the generosity of our community.”

Since 2001, the fundraiser has collected more than $4 million for the Special Olympics statewide.