Rib City holds fundraiser
North County Staff
Restaurant owner recruits 'Law and Order' actor for charity event
By Barbara Christiansen
Dec 18 2008
Fans of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," those seeking to help others at Christmastime and customers who just enjoy barbecued food gathered together last week, with the result that six kids will have a chance to do some Christmas shopping with a police officer on Saturday.
Toni Jorgensen of Rib City Grill had a benefit for two days at the restaurant, calling in assistance from her brother, actor Vincent D'Onofrio, who stars in the TV show. She said she was pleased with the results of the fundraising.
"We raised almost $3,000 in American Fork," she said. The goal was originally $2,000, but the restaurant's customers exceeded that. In the Sandy location, they collected more than $4,000 to help the effort.
"Everybody was just excited to see Vincent," she said. "They were also supporting the cause."
Jorgensen said people came into the restaurant after her brother had left, but asked her to deliver messages for them.
"Tell him I love him," she reported that they said. "I got random phone calls about him on Saturday."
A record number of customers ate lunch at the American Fork location on Thursday.
"It was double the amount we usually get," Jorgensen said. "We thank our customers for their help."
Lt. Sam Liddiard with the police department said officers would take six kids from the community who are in need. They will shop this Saturday morning at Wal-Mart, after being treated to a breakfast at IHOP.
"The kids will get to ride in a police car and can even play with the sirens," Liddiard said. "Then the officers will take the kids around and let them shop."
He said in other years when the department has done this project, the kids do buy things for themselves, but often come with ideas of things they want to purchase for others.
"Kids usually show up with a list," he said. "They are interested in purchasing things for brothers, sisters, mom and dad."
Both Liddiard and Jorgensen said they hope to make the fundraiser an annual event. Liddiard said funds that are not expended this year will be used next year to help additional kids.
Jorgensen said she planned on continuing.
"It should get bigger and better," she said.
D'Onofrio said he was pleased to be able to participate in the effort.
Partly because of the role he plays as a New York detective and partly because of the show's relationship with the police, he said they have developed a great relationship through the eight years the show has been in production.
"We shoot in the city and we need to work with the police all the time," he said. "They open streets up for us, help with crowd control. I have been doing the show eight years and have been friends with several officers and one chief in particular over the years. Whatever I can do for them, I will."
"We are very in sync with the police in New York," he said. "They help us out with a lot of things. I feel the same way anybody on the right side of the law feels about the police. They take the time to do things for kids. It is an amazing thing. We should help them out."
"The police take the kids shopping and buy things for them and their families," he said. "That is why I am here."
SIDEBAR
Anyone who would like to donate to help a child this year or in the future may make a check payable to the American Fork FOP Lodge and send it to the city at 51 E. Main, American Fork. FOP is the abbreviation for Fraternal Order of Police, a non-profit organization.
www.heraldextra.com/content/view/292908/
Thanks for the link. He does seem shy and, yes, they look like they're comparing haircuts 
