Kaladi Brothers holds online fundraiser for shot APD officer

June 14, 2010

Gina Romero with Kaladi Brothers Coffee says Alaskans are very generous people, contributing $7,000 to a Kaladi fundraiser in support of Anchorage police officer Jason Allen. (Joshua Borough/KTUU-DT)

by Jackie Bartz
Sunday, June 13, 2010

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A local coffee chain is experimenting with using social media this week to raise money for a good cause. Kaladi Brothers Coffee plans to donate the proceeds from a fundraiser using the location-based social networking website Foursquare to Anchorage police officer Jean Mills.

If you're interested in raising money for Mills, who was shot during a traffic stop Wednesday, now there's an app for that -- well, sort of. Every time you use a GPS-enabled smartphone to announce on Foursquare that you're at a Kaladi Brothers cafe, the company will donate $1 to Mills' recovery fund.

"So now, all my friends know I'm at Saturday Market, and I'm going to tweet it on Twitter," said Kaladi Brothers' Gina Romero. "I'm going to check in, boom -- the company donates a dollar every time someone does that."

Police say 24-year-old Kenneth Robinson shot Mills during a traffic stop Wednesday morning. Just before midnight, police say Robinson turned the gun on himself, committing suicide when police tried to arrest him.

Mills was shot in the upper arm and hip, injuries that police say require multiple surgeries. It's a long road to recovery -- one that a fellow officer knows all too well.

Officer Jason Allen was injured in a drive-by shooting earlier this year. Kaladi Brothers was also there to help him out, holding a more conventional fundraiser for his recovery fund. The company also has a donation jar for Mills at its Saturday Market cafe.

"It went very well, nearly $7,000 raised for Officer Allen," Romero said. "We put donation jars in the cafes throughout Alaska, and people stepped up and were of course very, very generous. Alaskans are very generous when it comes to helping."

Coffee drinkers say they will continue their generosity as long as wounded officers need their assistance.

"We should support her, support the families and stuff," said Kaladi Brothers customer Rocco Demaio. "She didn't deserve it, she just stopped him for a traffic (violation) and she didn't deserve it, so why not help them out?"

At the Saturday Market, it doesn't matter if you choose to use technology to check in or use your wallet to drop in -- both avenues will let you show your support for Mills.

The Foursquare fundraiser ends June 20. The Anchorage Police Department Employees Association has also set up an account at KeyBank to help Mills with her medical bills. You can visit any branch of the bank to make a contribution.

Contact Jackie Bartz at jbartz@ktuu.com

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