Buffalo Tully's restaurants kickoff 'Special Thursdays' to support Special Olympics

Tully's Good Times Restaurants in Amherst, Clarence and Cheektowaga have joined forces with the Special Olympics-Western New York Region to raise money for the upcoming Special Olympics New York State Summer Games starting on June 14.

"We are inviting all law enforcement agencies and the Buffalo community to partake in this giving effort to support one of the country's greatest philanthropic events," said Sam Bregande, from Tully's Good Times.

Every Thursday through June 13, Tully's will be designated as "Special Thursdays" to support the Special Olympics. Based upon sales of Tully's tender, Buffalo chicken tender and Asian chicken tender dinners, Tully's will then donate a percentage to the Special Olympics.

The first "Special Thursday" will be March 14 at all Tully's locations. To kickoff the fundraising, Tully's restaurants will host a press conference along with a $1,000 check presentation.

On that first evening only, from 5 to 8 p.m., law enforcement officers and local officials will take their oath to "serve" and protect to a new level, trading in their handcuffs and badges for menus and serving trays to assist servers at the Tully's across Western New York. Donations will benefit Special Olympics New York and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The Torch Run is part of a year-round, grassroots fundraising campaign by law enforcement agencies to benefit their local Special Olympics Program. New York State Police, Erie County Sheriff's, Hamburg Police Department, Evans Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, UB Police Department, Canisius Public Safety, among others, will participate in this unique fundraising event.

Throughout New York, local law enforcement agencies have raised more than $1.5 million for the athletes of Special Olympics.

"There's no ceiling on how much we can raise. This is our way of partnering with law enforcement officers, with their strong history of fundraising, as well as helping Buffalo support a great cause," Bregande said.

Special Olympics is the largest amateur sports organization in the world and provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community - at no cost to the athlete, their family or caregivers.

Established in Batavia in 1991, Tully's Good Times are locally owned and operated, sports-themed, casual dining restaurants with a family atmosphere. With 10 locations throughout New York, Tully's is proud to be a staple of life in Central and Western New York. Tully's Buffalo locations are at 8070 Main St., Clarence; 1449 French Road, Depew; and 1459 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst.