WBTB
Orange, CA – Two years after launching an online support group for police wives, Wives Behind the Badge (WBTB) announced today it has successfully completed the process of establishing itself as a charitable nonprofit organization and has received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS. The organization was established in 2006 by a group of police wives to provide much needed resources, emotional support, and essential benefits to police families, law enforcement agencies, and the community as a whole.
Many of our nation's law enforcement officers are facing salary cutbacks, some being paid close to minimum wage. They are required to pay for their own safety equipment and training and because of financial struggles, they often don't have the necessary tools to keep themselves safe, though they are expected to keep us safe. Many officers face catastrophic financial hardships due to major medical or disaster crises. As police wives, we know how this impacts our officers and how this ultimately impacts the greater community. Law enforcement officers need our help even more now, when public safety budgets are cut drastically due to our nation's financial crisis.
We are excited to continue offering our national support network to enforcement officers and their families. Our H.A.L.O.S. (Helping Aid Lost Officers Survivors) Condolence and Outreach Program reaches out to survivors of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty as well as to the officer's agency with a condolence card, handmade by a police wife. Members of our support network act as "angels" to the families of fallen officers, helping them cope with the loss of their officers. Since we started H.A.L.O.S. in April 2006, WBTB has sent out 396 cards. In 2007, we began sending cards to the partners of K-9s who died in the line of duty.
Our successful online discussion forum continues to provide hundreds of police wives across the nation, England, Canada, and Australia with support and guidance in dealing with the unique challenges they often face. We will also strengthen our family support resources, which are essential to all police families as well as the greater community, and we will continue to support families with supplemental financial assistance for medical bills and disaster relief.
We are developing a new scholarship program to provide educational funding to the children of active and retired law enforcement officers, as well as to the children of officers that have died in the line of duty. Special scholarships will also be available for the wives of fallen officers who find it necessary to return to school to support their families.
We are most proud of our Adopt-an-Agency program, which will directly impact the needs of our police officers. WBTB will help facilitate relationships between those agencies in need of equipment and training, and those that can share surplus equipment, supplies and provide training. Financial support will also be available to help law enforcement agencies with the purchase of K-9s, tactical gear, portable radios, air cards for unit cars, custom fitted protective vests, and sponsorship for training classes.
Founder and President Rose Winick was excited about the organization getting the news. “We are thrilled that we have achieved this important recognition and we are looking forward to continuing our support to police families and law enforcement officers across the nation facing tough times, especially those affected by our nation’s current financial crisis.”
WBTB is currently seeking funding through private donations, corporations, police associations, and grants to help pay for projects and programs. For more information, or to help, please visit the website at www.wivesbehindthebadge.org or contact Kat Meredith, Vice President at (714) 744-9282 or by email at info@wivesbehindthebadge.org
