GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Oct. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- There's a new server in town! This October, law enforcement officers across the country will trade their ticket books for order pads and unite at Red Robin^® restaurants* to serve guests for a special cause. Red Robin's 10^th annual Tip-A-Cop^® events will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22 and Saturday, Oct. 24 between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 pm., at more than 350 restaurants in 36 states. Law enforcement officers will volunteer their time as servers alongside Red Robin's wait staff to collect tips from guests to raise funds for their local Special Olympics Programs.

"Red Robin is proud to continue the tradition of partnering with local law enforcement personnel and Coca-Cola for our Tip-A-Cop events," said Lee Dolan, Red Robin's senior vice president and chief marketing officer. "Red Robin is all about supporting the communities we serve and with the help of our loyal guests, to date, officers have raised more than $2.7 million and generated tremendous public awareness for Special Olympics Programs throughout the country."

Tip-A-Cop is part of the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) campaign in support of Special Olympics. LETR is supported by more than 100,000 law enforcement officers worldwide who help raise money and public awareness for Special Olympics. As the largest grass-roots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics, LETR funds raised go directly to local programs in states or countries where the funds are generated.    

"Our annual Red Robin Tip-A-Cop events give us a chance to show the community the incredible bond law enforcement has with Special Olympics," said Michael Teem, executive director, Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. "The tremendous level of law enforcement and community support, and the unparalleled generosity from Red Robin and Coca-Cola, are what make these events so successful."

In 10 years, Tip-A-Cop events at Red Robin restaurants have raised more than $2.7 million to support both Special Olympics and the mission of inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.  This funding continues to support year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports throughout the United States.

For a complete list of upcoming Tip-A-Cop events at Red Robin restaurants, please visit www.redrobin.com/specialolympics. To learn more about Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and to find a restaurant location near you, please visit www.redrobin.com.

*At participating restaurants only.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., is the Gourmet Burger Authority^™, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries^® in a fun environment welcoming to guests of all ages.  In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology^® Beverages. Red Robin offers a variety of options behind the bar, including its extensive selection of local and regional beers, and innovative adult beer shakes and cocktails, earning the restaurant the 2014 VIBE Vista Award for Best Beer Program in a Multi-Unit Chain Restaurant. There are more than 500 Red Robin restaurants across the United States and Canada, including Red Robin Burger Works^® locations and those operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM^®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

About Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics
The LETR was founded 34 years ago by Wichita Police Chief Richard LaMunyon when five law enforcement officers carried the torch for the Special Olympics Kansas Summer Games in Wichita. The LETR has since evolved to a volunteer partnership with Special Olympics to champion acceptance and inclusion.  It has become a worldwide community of law enforcement officers rallying to support Special Olympics, the impetus for millions of new friendships around the world, and a series of events including Torch Runs, Polar Plunge fundraisers, and Tip-A-Cop® events.   The LETR is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics with more than 100,000 law enforcement participants around the world.  It was announced at the 2015 LETR conference that the LETR has raised a cumulative sum of over half a billion dollars since its inception in 1981 and more than $51.9 million in 2014 for Special Olympics athletes. Visit www.letr.org for more information.

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global movement that empowers people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and intolerance. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.5 million athletes in 170 countries. With the support of more than 1.4 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and more than 94,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Lions Clubs International, Mattel, Toys'R'Us, Microsoft, P&G, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the B. Thomas Golisano Foundation, Finish Line, The Safeway Foundation, and Safilo Group. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org. Engage with us on: twitter@specialolympics, fb.com/specialolympics, youtube.com/specialolympicshq, instagram.com/specialolympics and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.

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