Denver Union Station holding Feb. 14th ‘Day of Love' fundraiser in memory of slain RTD officer

DENVER -- Denver Union Station will host a special "Day of Love" fundraiser on Tuesday, February 14th—Valentine’s Day—to help raise money for the family of Regional Transit District Security Officer Scott Von Lanken.

On Tuesday, several Denver Union Station restaurants and retail outlets, along with other neighborhood establishments, will donate 10 percent of all proceeds raised to Officer Von Lanken's family.

Participating merchants include Mercantile dining & provision, the Cooper Lounge, Terminal Bar, Pigtrain Coffee Co., Milkbox Ice Creamery, Snooze - an A.M. Eatery, Tattered Cover, Next Door Union Station, Stoic & Genuine, Hopdoddy Burger Bar and Protein Bar.

Denver's Alpine Bank and IMA Financial Group have pledged to match all money raised next Tuesday, up to $3,000.

A father of two, a pastor and a former Wisconsin police officer, Officer Von Lanken worked as a contract RTD security officer for the past six years.

The Day of Love fundraiser was conceived by Dan Skvarca, Operations Manager and Proprietor of Mercantile, which is located inside Denver Union Station.

"Scott was a valued member of our community and he will be greatly missed," Skvarca said. "We wanted to create a way for the community to join together to celebrate his life and do something helpful for his family in the wake of this senseless tragedy."

For more information on how to participate in the Denver Union Station Day of Love, please visit www.unionstationindenver.com.

RTD Transit Police and Allied Universal, Officer Von Lanken's employer, have set up a memorial fund to help support his family through the Rocky Mountain Law Enforcement Credit Union. To make a donation directly, please contact the credit union at www.rmlefcu.org or 303-458-6660.