Log in

New nonprofit to help families of fallen first responders

Posted

Webster County’s newest charitable club aims to assist the families of our fallen police officers and firefighters. The Webster County 100 Club is a 501(c)(3) organization and a registered Non-Profit Corporation in the State of Missouri. As such, not one (1) penny will ever be used for political or religious purposes.

“We saw that other counties have these clubs and they’re able to help people out when tragedy occurs,” said Keith Housholder, President. “We’ve got the non-profit set up and the club has launched… Right now we’re trying to get local support.”

There are currently five (5) 100 Clubs in Missouri: Greene County, Stone County, Christian County, Taney County and now Webster County. The Webster County 100 Club, Inc, established in Jan. 2023, is a Missouri non-profit corporation and a federal 501(c)(3) created to financially support the surviving spouse and/or dependent children of the brave men and women from both county and local law enforcement agencies and fire departments who have died from injuries suffered in the line of duty within Webster County.

Webster County has six law enforcement agencies and nine fire departments/fire protection districts who serve and protect approximately 40,000 citizens in the county. The county covers 539.32 square miles and is bordered by Dallas, Christian, Douglas, Greene, Laclede and Wright counties, including the cities of Elkland, Fordland, Marshfield, Rogersville, Seymour, Niangua and the Village of Diggins. Surrounding 100 Clubs are cooperating to ensure that first responders are covered by a 100 Club in their county until the organization is further financially established.

“The Webster County 100 Club is a great organization run by great people. It is designed to help the families of our men and women in Law Enforcement and the First Responder Family who are killed while serving their community,” said Webster County Sheriff Roye Cole. “I stand with the with the program and wholeheartedly ask for your help. As a community, we must proactively be prepared for the worst for when tragedy inevitably strikes those who sacrifice the most for our citizens.”

All funds for this nonprofit come from community donations. With each donation of $100, or more, supporters receive a sticker to proudly display on their vehicle window. While displaying the sticker is not required, it promotes and encourages further donations to a local 100 Club. It also provides a visible statement of support to law enforcement and fire personnel whether they see you driving down a street, or when your vehicle is parked in a driveway, street or parking lot.

“Those who are interested in supporting this nonprofit can now join as founding members,” Housholder explained. “Founder level donations support the organization by providing $5,000, helping us front load the nonprofit bank account. This is offered for the first five months of incorporation and gives donors a lifetime status.”

Founder level donations also include 10 lifetime stickers, a website graphic and a prominent listing on the club’s website. There are five other support levels ranging from $100-5,000. Donations can be made directly to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (CFO) through the Webster County 100 Club’s website, webstercounty100club.com.

“We’ve been working with Greene County to get our chapter set up properly. We’re using CFO to collect donations and Label Solutions has made the stickers so we’re locally sourcing everything that we can,” Housholder added. “Every donation is a charitable donation that will go directly to CFO. They have their own rules about how it can be distributed and they audit it, and do their own taxes as well. So nobody can use the funds for anything other than formal requests for support when an officer or firefighter passes away in Webster County.”

According to Housholder, the club’s main mission is to financially support the surviving spouse and/or dependent children of local law enforcement agencies and fire departments who have died from injuries suffered in the line of duty within Webster County. The bylaws also include a provision for a limited distribution of funds for life saving equipment, training and resource materials, if there is a surplus of funds during a given fiscal year.

"I'm happy to see our community come together to support the families of emergency services personnel that give the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," said Marshfield Fire Chief Michael Taylor. "I support the formation of the Webster County 100 Club and commend the persons involved with putting it all together."

The earliest known 100 Club was started by William Parker, an auto dealer, in Detroit, Michigan, circa 1952. According to their website, Mr. Parker was saddened by the emotional and financial trauma carried by the families of law enforcement and firefighters when their member is killed, or dies, in the line of duty. Since then hundreds of 100 Clubs have been opened nationwide to provide financial relief to these families who have lost so much in support of their communities.

The Webster County 100 Club Inc. is locally run and utilizes local resources. All founding members and current officers have been residing and running a business in Webster County, MO for the past 20 years. The organization lists Housholder as president, Teresa Housholder as Vice President and Christopher Housholder as secretary/treasurer. To view a full pdf of the organizaton’s bylaws, visit this article at www.marshfieldmail.com.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here



X
X