Wilmington Police
Recreation Association
615 Bess Street, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401
Officer Down Memorial Wall Celebrity Autograph Fundraiser
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Independence Mall
John Bunting (former NFL linebacker –
James BONECRUSHER Smith (former WBA World Heavyweight Champion)
Karl Noonan (former NFL wide receiver – Miami Dolphins)
Barry Foote (former MLB catcher – Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, Expos)
Donnell Woolford (former NFL cornerback – Chicago Bears,
Billy Harris (former MLB second baseman – Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals)
Cast Member(s) from
Stuff The Bookbag Program
The Wilmington Police Recreation Association recently assisted the Wilmington Police Department's Crime Prevention Section and the Brigade Boys and Girls Club in participating in the "Stuff the Bookbag" program to help provide school supplies for needy students in the community.
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Santa Cop Program
Wilmington police officers, WPD employees and other "elves" have given Santa a helping hand for at least 18 years. In the 2008 event, some area children got to "shop with a cop" on Thursday morning, December 18, 2008. WPD and the elves paired up with 53 children for some breakfast and Christmas shopping. The Wilmington Police Recreation Association along with other local business and individual contributors finance this worthwhile annual event.
Tax Deductible Contributions for the Santa Cop Program may be sent to:
Attn: “Santa Cop”
C/O Lieutenant Matt Hinson,
WILMINGTON POLICE PIPES & DRUMS
The Wilmington Police Pipes and Drums Corps provides traditional bagpipe music for a variety of ceremonial occassions. The Corps serves the Police Department by performing at officer/employee involved funeral and memorial events, other ceremonial functions, and other events as approved by the Chief of Police.
Members of the Pipe & Drum Band includes regular members of the Police Department as well as volunteers from the community. The band practices are held each Monday at 5:00 p.m. at WPD Headquarters. Anyone interested in joining the band or interested in Bagpiping or Drumming training may contact Lt. Hinson by email at matt.hinson@wilmingtonnc.gov or by phone at (910) 470-3615. Tax Deductible Contributions for the Band should be sent to:
The Wilmington Police Recreation Association maintains a savings account for the Wilmington Police Pipes and Drums. The Association happily accepts donations to be used for equipment and supplies for the Pipe and Drum Band.
Attn: “Pipes and Drums”
C/O Lieutenant Matt Hinson,
On June 11, 2009, the Wilmington Police Recreation Association (WPRA) presented a $500 check to the Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) Foundation to establish a scholarship for CFCC criminal justice students. Wilmington Police Lieutenants Darrell Lanier and Kathy Cochran presented the check to Dr. Eric McKeithan, CFCC president. The gift will give first priority to students who are dependents of law enforcement officers who were permanently disabled or killed in the line of duty. If none apply, the gift may be awarded to other criminal justice majors.
Lieutenant Cochran, member of the WPRA, spoke about how important the scholarship is to the association. She states, “We are very excited about the partnership between our association and CFCC. This is a great opportunity for our association and the police department to become involved with the local community.”
Besides their generous support to CFCC, the WPRA continues with their community service in many ways. The association sponsors youth athletic teams, delivers food baskets to the elderly, helps officers’ and Wilmington citizens’ families in need and sponsors Shop with a Cop at Christmas.
Currently, the association’s goal is to raise money for the construction of a Wilmington Police Memorial Wall. On September 12, 2009 they will host a celebrity autograph signing at Independence Mall from 10:30am-1:30 pm. The group will also produce and sell a memorial coin that lists officers of the Wilmington Police Department who have died in the line of duty to raise funds to build the wall.
Scholarship support such as the WPRA’s benefits not only individual students, but the entire Cape Fear region. For every dollar taxpayers invest in CFCC, $2.36 is returned back to the local community. CFCC helps boost the economy of New Hanover and Pender counties by generating an additional $435 million business sales and $192 million in labor income, according to a recent study released by the North Carolina Community College System.
Officer Down Memorial Wall Project
The Wilmington Police Department is planning a memorial to be dedicated to New Hanover County Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty. The Memorial will be built in front of department headquarters, and will be a special place for citizens, friends and family members to visit, reflect and honor our brave fallen officers.
The Wilmington Police Recreation Association (WPRA) has been designated by Chief Ralph Evangelous as the organization which will receive donations to build the memorial. For more information, you can call Lieutenant Kathy Cochran at 910-470-3524 or Lieutenant Matt Hinson at 910-470-3615.
The Wilmington Police Recreation Association is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Not for Profit Public Charity. Contributions to the Association are deductible under Section 170 of the Code. The Association is dedicated to the advancement of the Wilmington Police Department’s image and the well-being of the community.
Tax Deductible Contributions may be sent to:
Attn: “Police Memorial”
C/O Lieutenant Matt Hinson,
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION
The Association is dedicated to the advancement of the Wilmington Police Department’s image and the well-being of the community. The Association achieves this purpose through sponsorship of youth athletic teams, providing holiday food baskets for the elderly and needy, public education and safety projects, and other charitable contributions.
Tax Deductible Contributions for General Programs of the Association may be sent to:
Attn: “General Programs”
C/O Lieutenant Matt Hinson,