COLLIER COUNTY 100 CLUB
Our Mission
ABOUT US
100 Clubs have existed for many years all over the country with the goal of providing immediate financial support to the families of fallen officers. 100 Clubs first started in Florida in the early 1980’s when a state trooper was killed in the line of duty in Manatee County. In 1983 the Florida Highway Patrol commanding officer met with Sheriff Aubrey Rogers and his staff to discuss the need for such a club in Collier County. The Collier County 100 Club was incorporated in 1985 to provide support for the families of fallen officers.
Over time the Club broadened their mission to include all first responders serving in Collier County. That included not only the Sheriff’s Office, the various police and fire departments and the emergency medical services, but also the Florida Highway Patrol, Tribal Police, and Florida Wildlife officers. Recently the Board of Directors expanded the mission “To financially assist first responders and their families in times of tragedy.” This was to acknowledge that many financial burdens are placed on first responders by tragedies other than line of death duties.
The Collier County 100 Club must receive a written request from an agency’s commander in order to disburse funds. Most importantly, the goal is to disperse these funds to the first responder, or their family, within twenty-four hours. It has long been known that the need for financial relief is immediate and before other forms of support become available.
OUR HISTORY
A Florida Highway Patrol Trooper was killed in the line of duty in Manatee County, Florida in the early 1980s.
The trooper’s commanding officer quickly realized the financial burden suddenly thrust upon the trooper’s family by his untimely death. The family did not even have enough money for a funeral.
The commander took it upon himself to travel across the Sunshine State to ask local police and emergency responders to form organizations or “clubs” that would have immediate funding for fallen law enforcement officers who are killed in the line of duty. Even though insurance money may become available as weeks and months pass, the real need is within the first twenty four hours following a death or serious accident.
In 1983, the FHP commanding officer met with Collier County Sheriff Aubrey Rogers, Lt. Larry Vanston, CCSO, and Auxiliary Deputy Scott Salley, CCSO.
Sheriff Rogers was very interested in the concept and asked Lt. Vanston and Auxiliary Deputy Salley to organize a committee to establish the need for having a “club” to raise money for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Since that beginning, Sheriffs Hunter and Rambosk; as well as the Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs and EMS Chiefs have supported the Collier County 100 Club.
Soon after its formation, Collier County 100 Club organizers discovered other, long-established and active organizations in cities such as Detroit, Chicago, Columbus, OH, and Buffalo, NY – to name just a few. Information was gathered from several existing cities primarily located in the North East and Mid-West of the United States.
The Collier County pilot committee asked a handful of professionals and business leaders to join this newly formed “Collier County One Hundred Club” in 1984. Many of the original club members, or “plank-owners,” have passed, but their insight, experience and enthusiasm left a solid platform for the Collier County 100 Club to grow in membership and become incorporated in the State of Florida as a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization in 1985. The Honorable Kathleen Passidomo was the leader in this and, later, in the significant growth of the 100 Club.
2024-2025 BOARD
PATRICK D. O’CONNOR
President
RUSSELL BUDD
Vice President
KEVIN B. DOLAN
Secretary
BRIAN P. TINNEY
Treasurer
BARBARA BROOKS
Director
JOSEPH DAVIDOW
Director
ANDY DJAMOOS
Director
EDWARD A. MORTON
Director
TINA OSCEOLA
Director
THOMAS STORRAR
Director
EMILY BUDD-SCHEPPERLY
Executive Director