Following Symposium, members will have the opportunity to put their golfing skills to the test for a good cause at the third annual POREF Open at the Angel Park Golf Club in Las Vegas on June 7. The event provides a fun venue for law enforcement labor leaders to network with each other and industry experts while engaging in some friendly competition on the fairway. But more than that, the tournament raises awareness and vital funds for the Peace Officers Relief and Education Foundation (POREF), a recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization established by PORAC in 1980 to provide memorial assistance, offer educational scholarship grants and administer other charitable relief programs to assist law enforcement and their family members in times of financial need.

Last year, the POREF Open raised approximately $40,000 for the Foundation. Vice President Damon Kurtz hopes for that number to grow this year, as one of PORAC’s priorities is to find ways to increase funding for POREF’s initiatives so that it can provide even more money to the families of the fallen and scholarship recipients.

“Law enforcement associations were originally founded as widows’ and orphans’ funds to take care of our members and families,” Kurtz says. “Although we have evolved into unions, we want to stay true to our original mission in taking care of our membership’s families.”

Attending the annual POREF Open is one way that members can help the Foundation’s programs thrive and expand their reach within the law enforcement community. All proceeds from the tournament directly support the following funds:

• The Scholarship Fund provides educational opportunities for deserving applicants and helps encourage young people to consider law enforcement as an honorable career worth pursuing.
• The Catastrophic Relief Fund provides financial support for members and their families facing a crisis, such as a life-threatening illness, wildfire or other natural disaster.
• The Memorial Fund provides financial support to help families through the life-altering changes that occur when they lose a loved one in the line of duty.

In 2023, POREF was able to provide $60,000 in scholarships, raise more than $750,000 for families in need and contribute more than $50,000 to help families and dependents of law enforcement officers killed on duty. An important way the Foundation is able to aid others is through Fund a Hero, a fundraising mechanism created by law enforcement for law enforcement that enables members to help those in need with peace of mind. PORAC monitors and administers the fundraising process from start to finish so that it can ensure that 100% of the proceeds go directly to impacted officers and their families.

Another way that members can support POREF is by donating to the Foundation directly by scanning the QR code on this page or clicking here. Kurtz notes that PORAC is currently exploring the possibility of voluntary donations at the member level through payroll deduction as a way to help bolster funds.

Treasurer Nick Odenath joins Kurtz and the rest of the Board in encouraging members to contribute to the Foundation however they can.

“I see POREF and the golf tournament as an opportunity for cops to help other cops and their families in need,” Odenath says. “POREF is an example of strength in unity. When everyone is willing to provide a little bit of assistance, it becomes a significant help to our members and their families who are struggling. It is fundamentally one of the most important things we can do collectively, in my mind.”

To register for the POREF Open, visit PORAC.org/events/poref-open.