Heart of Texas 100 Club

Press Release 08/27/2024

Images from the event

Thank you to all who came out yesterday to our First Annual First Responder Appreciation Event at Hawaiian Falls. We had a great time. Thank you to our volunteers: Waco Police Academy Alumni Association, and the Junior Waco PD youth, plus those from the Woodway Youth Commission. Great helpers and we appreciate their efforts. You just have to love their spirit!

Are you a member of the club? Were you a member and somehow your membership did not get renewed? Either way, please consider joining our club.

Please note, the August 25th First Responder Appreciation event at Hawaiian Falls is for those first responders that work in McLennan County. This is for our law enforcement officers, fire fighters, EMS and jailers.

McLennan County First Responders.

The Heart of Texas 100 club presents First Responder Family Fun Fest Sunday August 25, 2024.

An image of our board meeting today. Topic: Marketing our club. Exciting times for the club folks. Join today to support your local first responders: police officers fire fighters, EMS and jailers.

Want to join our club? yes, you do!
Here is a new feature: QR Code that takes you directly to our membership page. Easy to join.

On behalf of the Executive Director of the Heart of Texas 100 Club, Ret. Chief Brent Stroman, I am sharing the attached power point that provides an overview of the Heart of Texas 100 Club and all the program offers.

Established in 2012, the 100 Club in the Heart of Texas is a citizen-based, non-profit organization that raises funds to help pay funeral expenses, relieve mortgage or other debt, and cover educational expenses for the family of first responders killed in the line of duty. The Club receives no government support, is non-political, and is entirely volunteer driven.

Surviving spouses and dependents of all paid, certified federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, firefighters, jailers, and emergency medical responders working in McLennan County may receive benefits from the club.

The 100 Club of Heart of Texas is part of a network of 100 Clubs established by citizens across the country to support our public servants. The idea of the 100 Club began in Detroit, Michigan in 1952 after a local businessman was moved to action when a police officer was killed in the line of duty. The businessman wrote to 100 of his friends encouraging them to donate to a fund for the fallen officer´s family to get them through this emotionally and financially trying time.
(Copied from an email from Lorena PD Chief Scott Holt)
https://100clubhot.com/index.html

KWTX Tell Me Something Good Story on the club:

Waco nonprofit helping families of first responders killed in line of duty looking for more members The McLennan 100 Club has been in existence now for 13 years and has about 150 members, but the more members the better work they can do.

The club is offering two information meetings:
Hi Chiefs and Chief Executives. You and your second are invited to attend the 100 Club Heart of Texas annual Chief's meeting. We have 2 meeting dates and locations set for you to select one which best fits your schedule. The same information will be presented at both meetings. The agenda includes an explanation of our first responder insurance policy and forms, presented by our insurance carrier and an opportunity for you to ask questions.

I know this is a busy time so if you cannot attend, please send a representative. The meal is catered by George's and meal service begins at 11:15. There will be a mix of Police, Fire, Medical Responders, and Corrections at each meeting and at both locations.

If you are able to attend, let me know which date and how many for my meal count. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at a meeting.

11:15, July 17th at the Hewitt Police Department

Hewitt Police Department- 100 Patriot Court, Hewitt
Parking is in parking lot and space for the meeting is limited to around 25


11:15, July 25th at the Administration Building of the Waco Fire Department.

Waco Fire Administration/Community Building- 1006 N. 25th Street
Parking is in Fire/Public lot, on the street, and in the lot across the street accessible from Grim.

Brent E. Stroman
Executive Director
100 Club Heart of Texas
Chief of Police (ret.), Waco Police Department
254-457-1681

On behalf of the Executive Director, Executive Board and our club President, we want to thank you for the support last evening at our 6th Annual Fund raiser. We had great attendance, and you could feel the electricity in the room. We will follow-up soon with additional information. A great night for our first responders.

The Heart of Texas 100 Club offers one scholarship to MCC each May:
Please see below at the scholarship opportunity.

Starts May 1. Due May 15.

Scholarship Details (awardspring.com) https://mclennan.awardspring.com/Home/ScholarshipDetails/294541

• Scholarships
•
• The McLennan 100 Club Academic Scholarship
Overview
Open to MCC students that are children of first responders in McLennan County. High school "B" or 80, GED score of 50 or cumulative college GPA of 2.5. Merit/Need.
Qualifications
Applicants must meet all of the qualifications in at least one of the following groups
• Applicant must be the child of a first responder.
• Applicant must have a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or greater.
OR
• Applicant must be the child of a first responder.
• Applicant must have a High School GPA between 2.5-5.0
OR
• Applicant must be the child of a first responder.
• Applicant must have a GED score of 50 or greater.
OR
• Applicant must be the child of a first responder.
• Applicant must have a High School GPA between 80-100.
Quick Facts
• Apply by May 15, 2024
• $1,000.00

mclennan.awardspring.com

Our annual banquet, which is our fund raiser, is this Thursday May2nd.

Our annual banquet is fast approaching. May 2nd. See you soon!

The Black Rifle Coffee Company (BRCC) event yesterday was a success, and we had a great turnout from the different first responder agencies in the county. Photos are attached. Fire, law enforcement, and medical responders were represented at local, county and state levels. The McLennan County SO won the draw and received over $1500 in donated items collected from BRCC and their customers over the past few weeks. Chief Stapleton and Assistant Chief Adams, Robinson PD each won a BRCC $25 gift card. BRCC Staff were very pleased with the response and expressed their desire to make this an annual event. Thank you all for your support and our Board of Advisors for attending or sending representatives from your agencies.

The annual event with McDonalds was another successful fund-raising event. Thank you!
Here are some images.

On behalf of Executive Director Brent Stroman and the leadership team of the Heart of Texas 100 Club, I would like to share some information about upcoming events and opportunities.

First is the 100 Club banquet, which will be held on May 2, 2024. This year’s event will be held at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum at 2801 W. Waco Dr and will begin @ 5:30 pm. (see attachment)

The second event is the Heart of Texas 100 Club partnership with Black Rifle Coffee. We urge the community to stop by Black Rifle Coffee Company, 2436 Creekview Dr. in Waco, buy coffee, shop, and donate to support the Heart of Texas 100 Club. All donations collected between now and March 31st will be given to a McLennan County first responder agency through a drawing to be held on April 3rd. (see attachment)

The third and final announcement concerns the partnership between McDonald’s and the Heart of Texas 100 Club. On Friday, March 29th, McDonald’s restaurants across South and Central Texas will hold a fundraiser to support local 100 Club chapters in their mission to provide financial support to family members of law enforcement officers and firefighters who have been killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

The fundraiser will take place on Friday, March 29th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and 10% of lunch sales will benefit nine different 100 Club chapters. (see attachment)

Please pass along these opportunities to your staff and communities. As always, we thank you for your continued support.

https://www.lakeshorefuneralhome.com/steve-kroll/

Steve R. Kroll - Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services | Waco Texas Visitation and Viewing: 2 to 4PM Sunday, August 20 at Lake Shore Funeral Home. Memorial Service: 10am Monday, August 21 at Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel. A firefighter’s procession will immediately follow the service and conclude with burial at Wortham Bend Cemetery in China Spring. Steven R. Kro...

We have a youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfYx6Kp_KV4

It's exciting to report how well our 100 Club has done over this past year and the increase of services our Club offers to McLennan County First Responders and their families. Our Club is holding a noon meeting and meal for all McLennan County Chiefs and Agencies CEOs to update area departments/agencies on Club activities and give out information important for the line of duty serious injury/death insurance policy.

Hewitt Police Chief John McGrath and Waco Fire Chief Gregory Summers are providing rooms for the meetings. The meetings are scheduled for 11:30 on July 19th at the Hewitt Police Department and 11:30 July 20th at Administration/Community Building of the Waco Fire Department. The same information will be presented at each meeting; different days were chosen to give you a choice depending on your schedule. If you cannot attend, please send a department representative. There will be a mix of Police, Fire, Medical Responders, and Corrections at each meeting and at both locations.

Hewitt Police Department
100 Patriot Court
Parking is in parking lot and space for the meeting is limited to around 25

Waco Fire Administration/Community Building
1006 N. 25th Street (25th and Grim)
Parking is in Fire lot and on the street and in the lot across the street accessible from Grim

I'll need an attendance count for the food order, so email me if you (or representative) will be attending and which location. Be sure to call or email me if you have any questions.

Thank you for your leadership of our first responders and we are looking forward to having you as our guest for this meeting.

Brent Stroman
Executive Director
100 Club Heart of Texas
Chief of Police (ret.), Waco Police Department
254-457-1681

Press Release 06/14/2023