Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office donates $1,400 to Special Olympics

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office presented a $1,400 check to Special Olympics from the sale of the Sheriff's Office Autism coins on Friday morning.

The BCSO coin was created back in April during Autism Awareness Month, and the sheriff's office was able to sell them to raise funds.

Deputy Zack Craft said Special Olympics is important to him, especially because he has friends and family members who are a part of Special Olympics.

"They do a lot of things with Special Olympics, and just to be able to give that money to help them with their events and sports means a lot not just to me but to our entire sheriff's office," he said.

The funds will go toward providing additional programs for athletes, helping athletes attend state competitions, transportation and uniforms.

Special Olympics does not receive federal funding; it is funded through the community.

Melody Prawitz, development director of Special Olympics, said it is always great working with the community.

"The community does give us so much," she said. "We appreciate everything the community does because without them we wouldn’t be able to provide all of the programs we do."

Prawitz said she appreciates the support from the community, and that the BCSO was able to donate the funds.

"We're thankful that they chose Special Olympics to receive the benefit," she said.

Craft encouraged the community to be on the lookout for the sheriff’s office’s next coin and said he hopes to hold another fundraiser like this one in the future.