Applebee’s to Raise Money for Slain Officer’s Family

Stop by your favorite  on Monday, Dec. 5, to enjoy a great meal and contribute to a great cause.

Applebee’s restaurants in the greater Pittsburgh region have teamed up with the Western Pennsylvania Police Benevolent Foundation  and the Officer Derek Kotecki Benefit Committee to raise funds for the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.

The fund benefits the family of Lower Burrell Police Officer Derek Kotecki, who was  when he and his K-9 partner, Odin, were pursuing murder suspect and fugitive Charlie Post.

The 18-year veteran left a wife and two young sons, as well as many friends and colleagues.

The WPPBF is a newly-formed nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of officers and officer families, in need, regardless of employment status or union affiliation. The shooting of Clairton Police Officer James Kuzak earlier this year spurred its creation in the summer.

Following Kotecki’s death, the WPPBF stepped into action.Through its partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, volunteer officers collected more than $22,000 in donations Oct. 15 during a Penguins home game at CONSOL Energy Center.

It collected an additional $10,000 through other fundraising efforts, including two days of collections on Route 51.

“Most people want to help fallen officers and their families but don’t know how to do so,” said Bethel Park Police Officer and WPPBF Secretary Andrew Volchko. “We want to give them an easier way to do it.”

It doesn’t get much easier or more delicious than what the WPPBF has cooked up this time.

Just print out the flyer on this page and give it to a server at one of 20 participating Applebee’s location between 11 a.m. and midnight Monday. Then sit back and enjoy your meal. Fifteen percent of the cost of your food order will be donated to the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.

If you can’t make it out to an Applebee’s on Monday, but would still like to help, donations to the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund can be sent to S&T Bank, 4251 Old William Penn Highway, Murrysville, PA, 15668. Please make checks payable to the Officer Derek Kotecki Memorial Fund.

Participating Applebee’s locations are: , West Mifflin, Washington (Trinity Point), Robinson, Pittsburgh Mills, Peters Township, Chippewa, Clarion, Edgewood, Penn Center, North Hills (McKnight Road), Cranberry, Richland, Mount Pleasant, Monaca, Butler, Johnstown, Altoona, State College and Uniontown.

* You must print out the flyer and present it to your server in order to have 15 percent of your food order donated to the fund. *

Related Topics: Applebee's, Fallen Officer Fundraiser, Officer Derek Kotecki, and western pennsylvania police benevolent foundation