Our short lived snow fall has melted away and spring is in the air in the Old Pueblo! Just like many of you, Tucson Police Foundation has been very busy over the ‘winter’– raising funds and supporting the Tucson Police Department with needs that cannot be met through the budget process.
Since our last newsletter was published, we have hosted two very successful events. The Cops and Rodders Car Show was held in early November and attended by thousands of people. With over 400 cars entered, this show has quickly become a premier event on the circuit for car show enthusiasts. A devoted team of volunteers works hard throughout the year to pull everything together that makes this day a success—food, vendors, displays, and, of course, the individuals who so proudly drive out so the rest of us can enjoy their beautiful vehicles.
The 8th Annual Unsung Heroes Celebration was held at the end of January. This year, we honored three current officers, Tim Froebe, Meghan Wightman, and Jason Wilhelmsen, along with retired officer Bill Hogan. The Chairman’s Award recipient was 88-Crime. We also presented ballistic vests to several officers from the latest round of purchases.
With over 350 attendees, we set new records in both attendance and funds raised. Thanks to a generous community, we cleared over $58,000. Those funds will be used to purchase more ballistic vests for eligible officers as well as providing for the variety of needs that would not be met otherwise.
As you will see, we have a couple of fun events coming up in this spring. Our Canine Walk for Cops is scheduled for April 27 and is always a great time. Even if you don’t have a dog to walk, come out and join us at Brandi Fenton Park. The proceeds raised benefit the K 9 unit of TPD so you know it is a worthy cause. And what fun it is to see all those dogs strutting their stuff, enjoying the sunshine, the vendors, the food and the demonstration provided by the K9 unit.
Saturday, May 4 brings our second Clays for Cops to the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club. This competitive event is sometimes referred to as ‘golf with a shot gun.’ Both individuals and teams are welcome, and I understand that there is a challenge between Tucson Police Department and some of the other departments participating. Should be a lot of fun!
Come join us at one of our events and see first-hand how much fun we have while raising money to benefit those who put their lives on the line for us every day. Keeping these officers safe means a better Tucson for all of us.
Thank you,
Ellen E. Yacovone
Chair, Board of Directors
March 2013
Previous Messages:
Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to visit our website! The last time I wrote to you, I spoke about the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, particularly the Board of Directors of TPF. Today I would like to highlight our Friends of the Force members who give us not only money but time.
Friends of the Force members are businesses and corporations who take their support of TPF to the next level by committing to a specific dollar amount each year. In addition, they also provide support by volunteering their time on our board and/or at our events. Many of these organizations encourage their employees to get involved with the Tucson Police Foundation through volunteer opportunities.
Our longest standing Friends of the Force partner is Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union. They have been an integral part of the success of TPF through financial and volunteer support over the past seven years. TOPCU is the title sponsor of the annual Canine Walk for Cops, and their employees are our operations backbone at several events, including the annual Unsung Heroes Celebration Dinner. Their CEO, Joe Mirachi, is a very active member of our Board.
General Rubber Corporation is another of our Friends of the Force partners. While you may not recognize the name, this company has been around since 1950, designing and developing a wide range of mechanical rubber products used in very demanding applications. Amy Hammarstrom, who is an owner of the company, serves on our Board as Vice Chair and is Co-Chair of our 2013 Unsung Heroes Celebration.
Arizona Oncology Associates is our newest Friends of the Force partner. Evelyn Brantley serves on our Board and is Chair of our upcoming Cops and Rodders Car Show. Evelyn and her team from Arizona Oncology have enthusiastically participated in our events and we welcome them as a FOF partner.
Tucson Electric Power, the Jim Click Automotive Team, and Audilett Kastner PC round out our Friends of the Force partners. Without their support, we could not continue to provide the men and women of the Tucson Police Department with the training, programs, and equipment that the limited city budget does not.
Thank you to all our Friends of the Force partners! You are making a difference for Tucson each day because of your partnership with us. If you’re reading this and are interested in joining this special group, please contact us at 207-2878 and we will be happy to come out and talk to you about the opportunities available.
Sincerely,
Ellen Yacovone, TPF Board Chair
July 2012
Previous Messages:
I am very glad you are reading this message right now because it means you are visiting our new and improved website. Thanks to our Marketing Committee, we now are able to provide you more up to date information on the happenings of the Tucson Police Foundation, in a better format, and at a reasonable cost.
The Marketing Committee is just one component of the cadre of volunteers that stand behind TPF. As Chair of the Board of Directors, I am honored to represent what has to be the most dedicated group of volunteers I have ever encountered. Every single member of our board works on at least one committee and most work on two or more. All of our board members are volunteers who donate their time, and their money, towards the shared mission of providing the members of the Tucson Police Department with training and equipment that today’s budget constraints cannot provide. For a current list of our board members, click on the “About” tab.
As you see on the web site, we have several events throughout the year to raise funds and community awareness. Each of these events is coordinated by our wonderful two-person staff and supported through the hard work of these same volunteers. Our recent Unsung Heroes dinner, as an example, took dozens of volunteers to pull off and every single board member was involved at some level.
Thank you for your interest in the Tucson Police Foundation. Please take the time to see if you know anyone who is currently serving on our board and thank them for their volunteerism. Without people who are willing to work hard to make this a better community, the Foundation would not be here today, continuing to support the Tucson Police Department.
Ellen E. Yacovone
Chair, Board of Directors
Tucson Police Foundation