Chick-fil-A 5K gives beneficiary check to Blue Line Support at Ocoee commission meeting

Organizers of the Chick-fil-A annual 5K presented a beneficiary check to Blue Line Support during the City Commission meeting and thanked city departments and sponsors for supporting the event.

Beth Ots (Chick-fil-A) said the 13th annual Chick-fil-A 5K and kids fun run (with the addition of a family fun day and a new route) involved local sponsors including Health Central/Orlando Health, Fravel Brewer Orthodontics (kids run sponsor) and other community partners. Ots said the beneficiary selection process allows a local nonprofit to receive a percentage of the event—9s registration revenue.

Ots said Blue Line Support was this year's beneficiary and stated an amount the presenters expected to give: the presenter said, "I think it's $131,307.70" (as read at the meeting). Retired law-enforcement officer Mark DeStefano, who spoke for Blue Line Support, described the organization as a nationwide 24/7 hotline and peer-support service for law-enforcement professionals, 9-1-1 dispatchers, support personnel and their families. DeStefano said Blue Line Support provides counselors, hospital coordination, peer-support training and supervisor training for stress management and crisis response.

DeStefano also noted Blue Line Support maintains a website and Facebook presence for outreach and thanked city staff, volunteers and sponsors for their support. Commissioners and attendees joined organizers on stage for photographs following the presentation.