Labor_Day_parade_Buffalo_NY

 

Monday September 6th is Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.  In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.  All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.  Pictured at right is a photo of a Labor Day parade on Main St. in Buffalo NY in 1900.

 


TAPS

Tuition Assistance Police Survivors Program,INC.

TAPS is a special charity for the children of Phoenix police officers, regardless of rank, who die other than in the line of duty. Several years ago, members of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA), the police union, took note of the fact than under Arizona state law, the college-age children of police officers who are killed in the line of duty receive free tuition to any state university, plus financial assistance from the Phoenix 100 Club. However, the majority of police officer mom and dads die other than in the line of duty. Therefore, a big notch group of surviving police children was created who had to fend for themselves to get into college. So PLEA created TAPS- Tuition Assistance for Police Survivors.


TAPS is not a handout or an entitlement! Unlike most tuition programs, TAPS is for reimbursement of tuition expenses. The kids first must get to college, stay in school and achieve a passing grade. Only then can they apply for financial assistance through TAPS.


PLEA has selected TAPS as its in-house charity. The police union does its part by administering the program, and underwriting all of TAPS' administrative costs. Both PLEA's and TAPS' bylaws prohibit fund-raising through phone solicitations. Everyone who works on the TAPS program is a volunteer. Through PLEA's efforts 100% of all the money raised in the name of TAPS goes directly to tuition assistance.

 

Please note that TAPS is a charitable organization and received a non-profit charity designation from the Internal Revenue Service per its regulation, 501 (c) (3). Therefore, your contribution is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Spencer President, TAPS, INC. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
1102 W. Adams St. Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602)246-7869-Office
(602)246-0226-Fax