Businesses raise funds for families of slain police, fire personnel

Called the Greene County 100 Club, the mission is to issue one $5,000 check to each immediate family of police or fire personnel whose lives were lost while defending the public.

$400,000 to go

The program officially launches Nov. 7, but organizers say they’ve already secured about $100,000 in pledges.

Officials behind the 100 Club have the goal of raising $500,000 during the next five years, according to Commerce Bank Regional President Bob Hammerschmidt, who is serving as treasurer and development chair for the 100 Club.

“It’s a quality-of-life issue,” Hammerschmidt said of offering benefits to public safety workers.

While Springfield police and fire personnel have access to life insurance, “All those benefits flow slowly,” said Springfield Police Department Chief Lynn Rowe. “Survivors have to have help immediately, because there are burial or funeral expenses to deal with, (and) there are ongoing mortgages and bills that have to be paid.”

The nonprofit 100 Club will cover more than 700 full- and part-time and volunteer law enforcement and firefighting personnel throughout Greene County.

Tony Kelley, a Springfield firefighter for nine years, appreciates the club’s efforts.

“It does have a positive impact,” Kelley said. “You want to make sure that your family is taken care of.”

Hammerschmidt said almost 20 businesses have pledged $1,000 a year for five years, which is the founding membership level. Those donors include Bass Pro Shops, BKD LLP, Commerce Bank, Empire Bank, Great Southern Bank and O’Reilly Automotive. Individual and corporate memberships also are available for donations of $100 a year.

Origins

The idea for starting the 100 Club came from Dick Dunn, president of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks Foundation.

However, the 100 Club is not a new concept. Similar organizations exist all over the country, according to Rowe.

In fact, Dunn’s inspiration came from The BackStoppers Inc., a nonprofit organization in St. Louis that also issues $5,000 checks to surviving family members of police and fire personnel killed in the line of duty. The BackStoppers also covers St. Louis-area paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

While fatalities in the line of duty are rare in Greene County – a Springfield police officer hasn’t been killed in the line of duty since 1932 – Rowe said shootings, car wrecks and other life-threatening situations arise more often.

Two years ago, Dunn began talking to Rowe about a local 100 Club – named as such because most donations are $100. Dunn’s son is a Greene County sheriff’s deputy and former St. Louis city police officer, and Dunn knows officials with The BackStoppers.

Dunn said law enforcement and fire officials quickly took the reins. Rowe, Greene County Sheriff Jack Merritt and former Springfield Fire Chief Dan Whisler then enlisted the help of the business community.

The 100 Club

The Greene County 100 Club officially launches Nov. 7. A group of businesspeople is working to build a fund for the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. A news conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Nov. 7 at Southwest Police and Fire Station, 2620 W. Battlefield Road.

Membership Levels

Founding member: $1,000 a year for five years

Individual/corporate member: $100 a year

Goal: $500,000 in five years

Donations can be sent to Springfield Police Department, attention Greene County 100 Club, 321 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield, MO 65802.

Behind the Club

The board of directors comprises President John Rush, Vice President Jamie Holstein, Secretary Andy Hosmer, Treasurer Bob Hammerschmidt, Raylene Appleby, Bill Deal, Ralph Graham, Roy Holand, Charlie O’Reilly and Ronald Ponds.[[In-content Ad]]