Ione, CA…Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP) recently took part in two events to help charitable causes. From donating coats to school children to helping fund Special Olympics athletes, CDCR institutions step up to fill the needs in their respective communities. Mule Creek State Prison and CSP-Sacramento got behind efforts to boost charitable causes

Therese Giannelli, CRM, presents a check to Special Olympics representatives Scott Souza, Katie Ostrom and Jonathan Sparks. CSP-Sacramento donates over $8,800 to Special Olympics

Sean Snider, right, accepts coats from MCSP employee Pam Smith.

MCSP staff waited tables for Special Olympics.

MCSP employees Pam Smith, Warehouse Manager II, and Laura Brown, Procurement and Services Officer II, secured a $1,500 Elks National Foundation Grant through the local Jackson Elks Lodge 2426. Smith delivered the coats to Amador County School District Director of Student Services Sean Snider. The school district was grateful that the 68 coats would benefit local school children just in time for the arrival of the cold winter weather.

On Oct. 21, Mule Creek State Prison (MCSP) staff teamed up with the city of Elk Grove Police Department and Special Olympics athletes for the Red Robin “Tip a Cop” fundraiser for the Northern California Special Olympics.

Together, Special Olympics athletes alongside Warden Joe Lizarraga and MCSP staff filled drinks and bussed tables while raising awareness for the Special Olympics. At every opportunity, Red Robin patrons thanked Tip a Cop volunteers for their public service and support of the Special Olympics.

While Special Olympian Karissa displayed her medals, a patron said, “I feel honored to give back to the Special Olympics, I am very proud of Team Mule Creek and the law enforcement community for supporting such a worthy cause.”
The Tip a Cop event held by MCSP and the Elk Grove Police Department raised over $2,400 for the Northern California Special Olympics.

Inmate food sales at California State Prison-Sacramento (CSP-SAC) provided a generous donation to Special Olympics of Northern California (SONC).
Katie Ostrom, Development Director for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), Fundraising and Events Manager Scott Souza, and SONC Athlete/Ambassador Jonathan Sparks attended the check presentations and met with men on each of the level IV yards and the Minimum Support Facility. The check totaled $8,862.61.

Jonathan, who has been a part of SONC since 1975, first as an athlete and now as the ambassador, was able to detail for the men how much SONC has meant to him over the years.