Hearts of Gold Police Family Outreach – FAQ’s

by

Frequently Asked Questions

Patrol Sgt. Jeff Mockbee with his son, Jacob. (Pictured behind Jeff are the photos of officers killed in the line of duty.)What would our city be like without dedicated officers to protect us? Try to imagine what it must be like to go to work and face danger night after night, knowing you have a special needs son at home who relies on you.

Who can qualify to participate in the Hearts of Gold Program?
Any member of the Tucson Police Department may join the Hearts of Gold Program.

Who is covered by Hearts of Gold?
Any contributor who is an active member of TPD, sworn or non-sworn, their spouse, domestic significant other, children or dependents are covered. The participant must be a current contributor of at least $5 per pay period or $130 in advance for at least 90 days.

When does coverage begin?
In an effort to allow the Hearts of Gold fund to grow to a practical amount there will be no disbursements for the first 60 days after the inception of the program.

Are donations to Hearts of Gold tax deductible?
Yes, all donations are considered charitable through the Tucson Police Foundation 501c3.

How do I contribute to Hearts of Gold?
There are a number of ways to contribute. The easiest is to sign up for payroll deduction so your contribution of at least $5 per pay period goes directly into the fund. You may also make an annual contribution that would equate to at least $130 per year.

Can I get my money back?
No, all contributions are considered donations and are final (no refunds).

Can I stop contributing?
Yes, all you need to do is to submit a request to the Hearts of Gold committee to stop contributing and the request will be forwarded to the Foundation for action. Once you stop contributing your eligibility to receive financial aid from the program will end.

Hearts of Gold Contribution Cancellation Form (130 KB)

What if I need long term help for my child, but I also receive assistance from another source?
Hearts of Gold may still be applicable, it will be important that you demonstrate a financial need for assistance. If the money from the agency you are receiving help from, either medical insurance or other aid, is not sufficient then you will just need to identify that on your application and document the need in your financial statement.

Will Hearts of Gold help with burial expenses?
Yes, Hearts of Gold is one way to help you through a time of crisis such as a death in your family. If you have insurance that will cover burial, but you need funds to help pay for the expense until you receive your insurance payment, then Hearts of Gold can help.

Will I have to repay the burial cost?
You may have to repay the difference between the insurance reimbursement and the grant award you received from Hearts of Gold. If there are other costs associated with the burial that were not covered, you may be eligible for a grant for those as well.

How do I apply for Hearts of Gold assistance?
In an emergency or for requests of $2,500 or less you only need to complete a short form listing name, need, reason, amount requested, and is this a one time only need? For requests greater than $2,500 a more detailed form has to be completed. It includes all of the information from the short form plus some additional financial and documentary requirements.

Are requests confidential?
Yes, all requests are kept strictly confidential.

Is there anonymity of requestors to prevent concerns of discrimination or favoritism?
Yes, only the chairperson of the review committee will know the name of the requestor.

What if one of the committee members themselves or their family needs to request assistance?
Committee members must recuse themselves if they make a request or are related to requestor.

Can I apply on behalf of another Department member?
Yes, as long as they are currently participating in the Hearts of Gold Program.

How much can I receive?
The annual and single event maximum distribution is $5,000 or 5% of the fund, whichever is less. The lifetime maximum distribution is $20,000.

What is the least I can request?
The minimum disbursement request is $100.

If my request is denied can I appeal the decision?
Yes, in the event a request is denied there is an appeal process. The applicant will need to provide significant new information to the Hearts of Gold review committee. The committee will then review the new information. The appeal must be submitted in writing within two weeks of notification of the denial. All new information relating to the appeal must be received by the committee and will be reviewed for reconsideration within 60 days of the request denial.

Are there tax consequences for the recipient?
Possibly, generally gifts of less than $12,000 per year do not have taxable consequences. However, it will be the recipient’s responsibility to determine tax liability and pay any and all tax consequences should there be any.

How is the Hearts of Gold committee assigned?
The committee is appointed by executive members of the TPOA, FOP, TPCA, TPF and at large vote of non-sworn employees.

How many committee members are on the Review Committee?
There are seven (7) members on the executive committee, one member from each of the above organizations and three non-sworn members. Any member of the department can be a member of the general committee and are encouraged to participate.

Will there be accounting reports to the donors?
The Hearts of Gold website will post a basic full accounting each month. An independent audit will be conducted annually. The results of the audit will be available in writing and on the website.

Can I change the amount of my bi-weekly gift?
Yes, if you have direct deposit, you need only obtain a form from a Hearts of Gold committee member to change the amount of your gift. While the basic amount is $5 per pay period, members may gift $10, $15, $20 or even higher if they choose.

Will disbursement limits be increased as the fund increases?
Possibly, the committee will review grant limits annually to determine if increases or decreases are needed. This will be dependent upon the balance of the Hearts of Gold fund.

Where will the money be kept?
The money will be deposited directly into a Tucson Police Foundation account set up specifically for the Hearts of Gold Police Family Outreach fund.

Who has access to the funds?
There will be three designated members of the committee who will have the authority to write a check once disbursement has been authorized.

What is the role of the Tucson Police Foundation?
The Tucson Police Foundation will provide the administrative tasks such as record keeping, accounting, administering and reporting related to the Hearts of Gold account. Information about the Hearts of Gold Program and applications will be maintained on the Tucson Police Foundation website. The Foundation will also provide a board member and the Executive Director to assist the Hearts of Gold committee and to pursue funding from the community. In December of each year, the Tucson Police Foundation Executive Director will submit a bill for any costs associated with the above work for the Hearts of Gold Program. The committee will validate and approve any requests for reimbursement. THE TUCSON POLICE FOUNDATION WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE FUNDS IN THE HEARTS OF GOLD ACCOUNT.

How often are the rules and by-laws of the Hearts of Gold to be reviewed?
The rules and by-laws will be reviewed annually.

Are there any future plans for Hearts of Gold?
Yes, the vision includes one day having a “Heart’s Desire” program similar in nature to “Make a Wish.” However the focus for now is to get the outreach program up and fully funded and running.

Can the community contribute?
Yes! If you know of individuals or organizations that you think would like to participate in this very worthwhile program, please have them contact Captain Mike Gillooly at 837-7480.

What about our retired members?
Our retired members may contribute to help our current employees. When the fund capacity grows large enough then the committee may take a look at making this fund available for retired members as well.

Minutes of Meetings

By-Laws

Program members should refer to the Hearts of Gold folder available on the share drive for the most current version of by-laws.