ORANGE PARK – The goal of every fundraising event is to collect more money than the previous year.

Tip-A-Cop did that. And more.

After surpassing the $10,000 mark in 2022, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Orange Park Police Department and Clay County Special Olympics athletes were stunned when they finished counting this year’s three-day effort at Texas Roadhouse on Blanding Boulevard.

CCSO Lt. Zach Cox, who organized the event,  was so happy he sent the following text:

“We raised a new Clay County Special Olympics record, totaling $12,758.13!”

For three nights last week, deputies, officers and athletes delivered baskets of rolls, refilled water glasses and cleaned tables to raise money to send county athletes to the Florida Special Olympic Games at Walt Disney World in May. The results were overwhelming.

“It feels absolutely great,” Cox said. “Words can’t describe it. We love having Texas Roadhouse with us. They were so generous. It’s nice to know there are people out there with big hearts, giving hearts.

“It’s humbling to know there are people out there who see the big picture.”

Money earned through Tip-A-Cop was separate from tips earned by servers.

Organizers understood early they were on track to break the record in the first hour when three buckets were already stuffed with money-filled envelopes.

“It was great to see the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and Orange Park Police Department out there,” said Zoe LoSasso, manager for community engagement for the seven-county Special Olympics district.

“I know our athletes look so forward to this, It’s important to get our athletes out to these events, and they did a great job doing that. Our athletes had big smiles.”

LoSasso said the Clay County event “ran seamlessly.”

Cox said Clay County would send as many as 50 athletes to the state games.

The next event ahead of the state games is the Torch Run on April 14, starting at 10 a.m. at the Pulbix on Country Road 220 on Fleming Island. The Special Olympics torch will pass through all 67 counties en route to Walt Disney World, and law enforcement agencies will take its turn running along Town Center Boulevard.