Lawrenceville Police give $10,000 for trauma unit

Saturday, December 5, 2009
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- Officials from the Lawrenceville Police Department recently visited Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, presenting the hospital with a $10,000 check for its trauma unit.

The money was raised during the department's inaugural Smokin' Guns Chili Cooking Showdown on Oct. 24 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.

"Last year we decided we wanted to do a fundraiser, to be an active participant in the community," said Officer Lee Smith. "There are plenty of deserving charities, but we picked Children's Healthcare because the work they do is wonderful and the trauma unit is part of the hospital that doesn't get much attention. And we see trauma cases before they go to the hospital."

Mayor Rex Millsaps and Sheriff Butch Conway served as judges, sampling 20 chilis for flavor and heat.

Lawrenceville police also raised nearly $6,000 for its Lawrenceville Police Benevolent Fund, a 501(c)3 public charity that assists police officers injured in the line of duty.

Smith said the cook-off will likely be an annual event.

"We're already planning the next one," he said. "We feel like it was a great success. The people who came had a great time and we got some great feedback."

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