Donations

No one ever believes that there may come a time in their life when they may be faced with hard financial choices. All too often we have been asked to pass the hat at roll call to help a fellow officer who has either fallen on hard times due to unforeseen medical problems, who has been suspended or was injured and just cannot work. This was never an effective way of taking care of each other; after all we are “each others keeper!” Because of this, the executive board of the DPPA, our legal team and staff formalized a relief fund that had existed for some time.

Formalizing this fund meant obtaining tax-exempt status and then finding generous donors who were sensitive to our cause. Shortly after formalizing this fund, we experienced a catastrophe - the Fire and Police Health Fund - failed. Police Officers, Firefighters and their families were left with staggering unpaid health care claims. Our staff successfully negotiated with the health care providers and minimized the financial impact this collapse left our members. The business community and our administrators stepped up and contributed to our relief fund and we were able to cover the medical bills for almost every officer who had been left with uncovered financial responsibility. We held numerous fundraisers, raffled off vehicles and were successful in our efforts. Our fundraising efforts continue today.

I will not belabor the importance of this fund. What I will try to do is explain in general terms the impact this fund has had for countless officers. Since the 2003 inception of this fund the DPPA Relief fund has provided the following assistance:

2004 = $37,274.74
2005 = $40,098.70
2006 = $31,525.78
2007 = $52,857.20
Jan.1 – Oct. 15, 2008 = $24,000.00

Thus far, we have granted $185,756.42 in financial assistance to first responders. To ensure the financial stability of this fund, an applicant must have a demonstrated and qualifying need for financial assistance according to the Articles of Incorporation: “public safety personnel suffering from illness, disease or injury and the spouses, children, families and designated beneficiaries of such individuals.” The award must be approved by a majority vote of the executive board of the DPPA. This fund also undergoes an annual audit by an outside accounting firm to ensure the integrity of this 501 (c) (3) fund.

Rather than passing the hat each time a first responder has a qualifying hardship it would be an incredible act of camaraderie if every member of the Denver Police Department made a bi-weekly contribution to the DPPA Relief Fund through the DECC. A bi-weekly contribution of as little as $2.00 per officer, which is tax deductible, would help ensure that this fund continues to protect each of us. The choice is yours, please consider this worthy cause before you decline the DECC application. Any Employee of the City and County can contribute to this account. Please understand that we are not associated with the Denver Police Foundation but work closely with them on many unfortunate cases. Our combined efforts ease the worries of our members. WE ARE EACH OTHER’S KEEPER.

WAYS TO HELP OUR FIRST RESPONDERS

Citizens often ask how they can help our first responders. Now, there is a way you can support the heroes who serve and protect our community.

First:

Contribute at the local level and help keep crime rates down by volunteering your time to an after-school program in your neighborhood. (720-424-8245)
Join or start a Neighborhood Watch program on your block. Be part of making your neighborhood safe. (720-913-6022)
Sign petitions that support police issues when presented.
Vote for political candidates endorsed by the Denver Police Protective Association. Board members carefully screen candidates before endorsing them to the public and their members.
Sign up for a ride-along with an officer in your district to learn more about what they do to keep our communities safe and the dangers they encounter on a daily basis. Call 720- 913-6022 to schedule a date.

Finally, support our first responders through donations to the Denver Police Protective Association Relief Fund. The Relief Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) organization developed to provide an avenue for corporations, businesses and individuals to demonstrate their concern for public servants via tax-deductible contributions.

The mission of the Relief Fund is to raise funds and provide financial assistance to public safety personnel and their families suffering hardships, due to illness, disease or injury.

The necessity for the Relief Fund began with the vision of helping numerous public safety personnel facing great financial losses through the failure of their health fund, leaving many with large unpaid medical debts which threatened their financial security.

While we always hope there are no critical incidents resulting in injury to those who serve our community by providing public safety, the reality of the first responder’s duty demands acknowledgment of the many dangers inherent to members of this profession. Those in this field are not exempt from illness, disease or other situations, which create hardships on officers and their families.

YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Your gift to the Denver Police Protective Association Relief Fund is a tangible way you can make a difference in the life of our public safety personnel. In fact, one hundred percent of your 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation goes directly to assist first responders and their families in need.

Here are some of the ways the Fund has already positively impacted the lives of our public servants.

In a collaborative effort, the DPPA Relief Fund and others raised more than $10,000 to support a severely injured Denver Police officer who was hit by a car while on-duty and received severe brain injuries.
The Relief Fund provided financial support for a Colorado officer who was seriously injured in a hit and run accident.
Donations were given to the spouse of a police detective to help bridge the financial gap between his death and her receiving his death benefits.
Monetary donations have been made to the beneficiaries of slain public servants to assist their families with death related expenses.
Support was provided to an officer who had to take a leave of absence without pay due to his nine year old son having double organ transplant which required several months of out of state residency near the hospital.
Funds were provided to the family of a firefighter after his tragic death following a fire where he saved a young girl’s life.
The Fund provided burial assistance to an officer and family who lost their two sons within 6 months.
Assistance was provided to officers whose homes were lost to Hurricane Katrina.
An off-duty officer was struck by a drunk driver while on his way home, thus no workers’ compensation, the Relief Fund assisted his wife and family during this hardship. After his subsequent death, we provided accommodations for his memorial service.
A South Dakota Indian Tribe officer was seriously injured and airlifted to Denver for several months of treatment; assistance was offered to his mother for housing, food and fuel during her stay in Denver.
Support is provided by the DPPA for payments of legal fees for required paperwork to be prepared for families to initiate disability, power of attorney, last will and testament, and other necessary documents; widow/or benefits for numerous officers, fire fighters, sheriff’s and EMT personnel at the time of death or catastrophe.
The Relief Fund assisted with a $3,000 purchase of police equipment for officers in a poor jurisdiction that had been instrumental in assisting the capture of the suspect who shot and killed an officer.

Annual fundraising is vital to the Relief Fund’s success. In 2007, the DPPA Relief Fund became an authorized recipient of the Denver Employees Combined Campaign (DECC) making us eligible to receive donated funds via payroll deductions and providing us with another avenue for generating more resources. All Denver city employees can choose the Relief Fund to receive their monthly charitable contributions – making it their fund. For more details on how to join this program, please call the PPA office.

Our annual fundraising events are open to the public and often include silent and live auctions. We also partner with other “first responder supporting organizations” which provides a venue to share our mission with citizens and businesses. Proceeds are shared with organizations who offer assistance to children, police officers and other first responders. BUT, IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH; in order to serve those in need we must continue growing the fund so financial assistance is always available.

Cash Donations are always accepted – this is the simplest way to give…donate in the memory of a loved one.... CONSIDER US FOR YOUR YEAR-END GIVING

EVERY BIT HELPS

Please demonstrate your support for public servants by partnering with us today. Consider giving a tax deductible donation or by becoming involved in our fundraising efforts. Many first responders can benefit from the assistance provided by the DPPA Relief Fund. – join our team today!

To make a contribution online click here or send a check made payable to:

Denver Police Protective Association Relief Fund

2105 Decatur Street,

Denver, CO 80211

For more details or to pay by credit card, call our office at 303-433-8247

Shop at King Soopers (and other favorite retailers) and help raise money for the PPA Relief Fund!

Now you can raise money for the Denver Police Protective Association Relief Fund simply by shopping at your favorite retailers – like King Soopers.

The PPA Relief Fund is partnering in a gift card program to help raise much needed funds to aid in our efforts. The program allows you to purchase gift cards from a wide variety of retailers through the PPA and in turn the Relief Fund receives a percentage from each card sold. This is a win – win for all of us. It’s as easy as buying the gifts cards and using them like cash while helping the Denver Police Protective Association Relief Fund.

Stop by the PPA today to check out the list and order your pre-paid gift cards or call 303-433-8247 x209. This is an on-going program so you can order at anytime. You can pay by check, cash or credit card – so place your order today!