By Joyce Hubler
Detective (ret.)
I am very excited and very proud to introduce you to the Foundation of Retired Police Officers, a 501(c)(3) charity.
This has been a dream of mine for over 16 years: to have an organization that would be in a position to help police retirees if they had a need, whether it be medical, transportation, or assistance while temporarily or permanently incapacitated. It would not matter if the retiree still lived locally, or had moved out of state. It would be modeled somewhat after PLEA’s TAPS (Tuition Assistance for Police Survivors) program.
A very generous benefactor offered to help me with this endeavor several years ago. Every penny of the costs of the incorporation and obtaining the federal approval for the 501(c)(3) has been donated to the foundation. Incorporation in the state of Arizona was obtained in May 2016. Our first board meeting was held June 11, 2016, and the 501(c)(3) status was approved by the IRS on July 11.
I will be forever grateful to the people willing to give of themselves, who believe in the dream and volunteered to serve on the board. Thank you to these great folks #7096. They will mold the foundation for the future of retired Phoenix officers, and hopefully, as the foundation grows, to other police retirees. I thank them for believing and helping.
I would like to specifically thank our original board of directors and several others who have shown interest in this organization and its purpose. They are, in no particular order, Chuck Boyd, Vincent Cole, Tom Van Dorn, Stan Hoover, Becky Rice, Joyce Hubler, Connie Tyler, Dale Norris, Joe Clure, Joe Yahner and Phil Gordon.