Donuts and Police Rides to School for Local D.A.R.E. Winners

Two local students, and six of their friends, will get a chance to hang out with Upper Gwynedd Township cops this week—complete with a ride to school and, naturally, breakfast at Dunkin Donuts.

Olivia DiPrinzo and Kathya Gonzales were the two big winners in the D.A.R.E. program challenge in April. 

DiPrinzo and three of her friends will be escorted from her home to Dunkin Donuts and then to Corpus Christi School on Wednesday by Upper Gwynedd Township Police motorcycle and patrol officers. 

On Thursday, Gonzales and three of her friends will be escorted by officers to Dunkin Donuts and then to her school, Gwynedd Square Elementary.

The Upper Gwynedd D.A.R.E. Challenge began in April at Chick-fil-a in Montgomery Mall.

The franchise owner of the Chick-fil-a, Mike Endicott, offered to assist the police department with raising money to support the program, which benefits three schools in Upper Gwynedd: Corpus Christi Parish School, and Gwynedd Square and Gwyn-Nor elementary schools in North Penn School District.

According to Officer Fred Lynch of Upper Gwynedd Township Police, the D.A.R.E. program is taught to fifth graders at those schools in a 10-week program. Lynch teaches the program along with police Sgt. Ted Caiola.

What's taught in the program are the dangers of using drugs and alcohol and tobacco. Students are taught ways to say "No" and ways to avoid risky situations and peer pressure.

During the program, Caiola and Lynch offered a challenge: Come out to an April fundraiser at Chick-fil-a and enter your name for a chance to win a ride to breakfast and school in a police vehicle with their D.A.R.E. officer.

All the fanfare will be activated too during the escort to school—that means lights and sirens.

A third winner was chosen in the challenge: Allison McNamara of Gwyn-Nor Elementary. However, a ride to breakfast and school has not been scheduled.