“The Indio Police Officers Memorial, Widows Emergency and Scholarship Fund was created in 2004. Our creator and original Chairman, John Rose, retired after working 37 ½ years with the Long Beach Police Department. When John moved to Indio he learned that the Indio Police Officers Association had never lost an officer, nor did they have anything like a Widows & Orphans Trust. John contacted the President of the POA and the Chief of Police and offered to start a fund to benefit officers killed or injured and for catastrophic needs. The fund would also have a scholarship program for officers and their children. I am happy to say that the Indio Police Department has not lost any officers in the line of duty nor has anyone suffered catastrophic injuries. The Board has been asked several times to assist officers who had an emergency financial hardship. Each request for assistance is evaluated on a case by case basis.”

Those who know me well are aware of the fact that helping others is something to which I am firmly committed. In this past year, I have begun to make many lasting connections within the entertainment community, and most of the time, I am promoting works and reviewing works, interviewing actors, etc. Essentially, I am doing the work of an entertainment writer, and it has indeed become a passion of mine.

However, I realized recently that there is so much more that I could do within my sphere of influence to reach beyond the realms of industry professionals and their works. What about those who tirelessly serve the communities of this great country of ours who may require assistance? Certainly, I regularly support charities, but what about industry professionals who also give of their time and resources to support worthwhile causes? Who more than these should be recipients of my time and my writing resources?

Permit me to highlight one such event happening in just a few days. It is the 13th Annual Widows & Orphans Golf Tournament. It will benefit the Indio Police Officers John Rose Memorial, Widows Emergency & Scholarship Fund. As you will notice above, you can find out a little bit about the fund and why it was originally established.

Now, I can imagine what some of you might be thinking–really?? You’re spotlighting a charity golf tournament? Actually, yes I am. And I am well aware of the fact that I don’t live in or near the Indio area, but honestly, that is beside the point. And in case you were wondering, no, I have never played golf (miniature golf does not count in my book), and no, I am not even a golf enthusiast. But again, that is considerably beyond the point.

So why would I take my time to attempt to advance a cause like this? Well, I suppose there are a variety of reasons, but here’s the main reason. In this country, respect for police officers in general is expiring at an alarming rate. While I live in the country, I work in cities where the crime rate is high. While I’ve never been a victim of a violent crime, I have gotten closer than I would like to admit, and I have even had someone erroneously call the police out to solve a dispute, but that is as close as I’ve ever gotten.

Regardless, I am at least mentally aware of what police officers face on a daily basis. They never know what they will encounter when they are called to a location. They put their lives on the line in order to keep our cities safe. I have nothing but respect for anyone who wears the badge, and they are a profession that is often under-recognized and even underpaid (at least in my opinion).

As an educator, I rely on police officers to keep the schools where I work and the children whom parents have entrusted to my care for the duration of the school day as safe as possible. While many of those children I teach have lost respect for the police and frankly don’t care what they or any adult says to them, it does not diminish the job they do. In fact, if anything, it makes the job more stressful and more dangerous.

Here’s what I think. Any beneficial event that can support a fund that in the event a police officer is killed or seriously injured beyond recovery in the line of duty is a worthy event. And that is why I am choosing to feature this event.

Here are some particulars about the event:

The golf tournament is Friday, September 30th, and the fee is $140 per person.  This includes the range, breakfast, 18-holes of golf, free chance to win a car and other prizes supplied by Unicars Honda, an awards luncheon following golf, and trophies for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team menbers. They have a wonderful raffle with prizes including a 50″ Flat screen TV supplied by Mathis Brothers Furniture, golf at exclusive local courses including Big Horn & J.W. Marriott, plus silent auction items that have been donated to the charity. 

A Few More Facts:

1.  The city of Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, and it is located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California’s Colorado Desert region. It is twenty three miles east of Palm Springs and one hundred twenty-seven miles east of Los Angeles.

2.  Approximately one hundred twenty golfers play in the event annually.

3. The charity also does supply scholarships to IPOA and IPCU Members and their dependents, and it averages two to four scholarship applications per year, ranging from $500 to $1500. 

Still not convinced? I mean, how do I know it’s a worthwhile charity as I stated? Well, let me explain why.

Perhaps this will help. If you are a close follower of mine, you will probably recognize a certain actor about whom I tweet an immeasurable amount. Some of you may know the story behind my friendship with Rick Ravanello, and if you don’t, just know that he is a good friend. Had it not been for him, I wouldn’t have even known about this particular event. In fact, he participates in a plentiful amount of these charity golf tournaments, and his determination to use his time and resources to support these events is what caused me to realize it was high time I do what I could to call attention to their work.

 Here is the official information about who will be in attendance this year:

This year’s event will feature KMIR News’ Chief Meteorogist, Ginger Jefferies, as the emcee.  Al Geiberger, “Mr. 59”, famous for being the first golfer ever to score a 59 will be in attendance with one or more of his son’s (also golfers).  Actors Rick Rananello and Brian Krause will also be playing golf in the event. (Interesting–kind of an Absolute Killers reunion of sorts.)  Councilmembers for several cities, Tribal elders, attorney’s and local businesses come out to support the police officers of Indio.  For a list of all our supporters both big and small, refer to the web page.  

At this point in my lifetime, I cannot attend these events. I hope to in the future–it is on my “bucket list” now because after all, if a dear friend like Rick can throw his support behind something like this, I know it is advantageous and above board. He is not the type to throw his support behind just anything or anyone.

So, if you will be in the Indio area on Friday, September 30,  I would invite you to attend the event. You don’t have to be a golf enthusiast–really, I promise you don’t. You just need to be one who cares about supporting some of the most important people in our world who deserve our full support–the police officers of our wonderful United States of America (which I am still proud to be a part of this country no matter how many people find themselves ashamed to be here).

If you are unable to attend, please note that they also accept cash donations all year long.  More information is available on their web site:www.IndioPoliceOfficersMemorial.org

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