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Special Olympics fundraising stalwart to retire from rewarding volunteer work

Yakima Herald-Republic (WA) - 9/30/2014

Sept. 30--YAKIMA, Wash. -- For 15 years, it's been all about the hugs.

But Gary McLaren -- probably the Yakima Valley's most dedicated fundraiser for Special Olympics -- has decided that he needs to wind down his volunteering career, so this will be his last year collecting money on behalf of the organization.

Most of all, he will miss awarding medals and ribbons to the physically or developmentally disabled athletes during summer and winter competitions at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and in Wenatchee.

McLaren and other volunteers pass out the medals after rounds of competitors complete their event.

Not all the athletes offer a hug, but McLaren valued the moments with those who did. That was part of what kept him coming back, year after year.

"The kids are what it's all about," McLaren said.

And the money that McLaren raised went right back to help Special Olympics participants in Yakima County -- both adults and children.

In 2008, McLaren raised his best annual amount of $31,000 by working a circuit of donors, from service clubs to companies. His efforts made the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, where he is a retired reserve lieutenant, a top contender for several years in total contributions to the Special Olympics' statewide Law Enforcement Torch Run campaign.

However, donations have dipped to about $15,000 over the last couple of years. "It's getting harder and harder to make a buck," he said, attributing the decrease to the economy and the diversity of causes people want to support.

That was part of the reason he decided to step down, but at 73 years old, his health also played a role. Even for the most dedicated, the time comes to retire.

Sheriff Ken Irwin said McLaren and his efforts for Special Olympics will be missed.

"You can just see the joy he gets out of it, and he talks and talks about how enjoyable that is," Irwin said.

It was McLaren's time at the sheriff's office that led to him volunteering for Special Olympics.

After almost 10 years as a reserve officer for the Yakima Police Department starting in 1962, he took a break, then moved over to the sheriff's office, where he served in the same position. He stepped down from the sheriff's office in 2000, spending his last few years raising money for special programs such as a bicycle patrol.

He began his Special Olympics work in 1998. The switch to raising money for Special Olympics -- members of the sheriff's office picked a charity to support -- allowed him to help the community and stay in touch with his law enforcement background.

He said he recruited and retained donors by giving them the most direct sales pitch he could about what he was doing and the reason for it.

"I gave them the straight skinny on it," he said.

And he was willing to pitch to his donors wherever he found them -- at their offices, over the phone, sitting at the bar.

"I think I've spent more time with Gary McLaren in taverns than anyone I know -- all for Special Olympics," Irwin said.

Irwin, who retires at the end of this year, said it will be up to the next sheriff to decide whether to continue the agency's level of participation in Special Olympics fundraising.

McLaren said he will remain active in Footprinters, a group of law enforcement officials and their supporters. He also belongs to several other clubs, including the West Valley Kiwanis.

Even if he's not passing out medals or picking up checks, he may still find an opportunity to attend the annual summer and winter games.

"That's going to be one of the things I miss the most," he said.

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(c)2014 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.)

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