2020 Annual Report
The Greensboro Police Foundation was not unique in the challenges that we faced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Like other organizations and institutions, we had to operate differently, moving meetings to Zoom and remotely conducting most of our business. In the interest of safety, we not only cancelled our signature fundraiser event, The Blue Salute, but also cancelled most of our events designed to honor the officers and employees of the Greensboro Police Department. Still, these setbacks did not prevent us from fulfilling our mission in 2020.
Within our focus area of equipment, training, and technology, our proudest achievement was the gift of an urban response vehicle. This innovative vehicle will help central-district officers maneuver quickly and safely through dense crowds in the downtown area and at large events. We also sponsored an additional Jared Franks Memorial Scholarship which will pay for a GPD officer to pursue their Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice Technology at Guilford Technical Community College. And training is not limited to the human police officers! We underwrote additional training for K-9 Porter, the ambassador of the Students Overcoming Situations program.
Within the focus area of officer wellness and recognition, we continued to operate our memorial flower fund which pays for memorial arrangements on behalf of the GPD. We also dedicated the new K9 memorial monument that honors the past, present and future K9 officers of the department. Although we were only able to hold one recognition luncheon this year, other initiatives demonstrated our support. We paid for meals for on-duty patrol officers in every district of the city, and purchased restaurant gift cards for the graduates of the 107th police academy class.
Community partnerships and advocacy were critical in 2020. We were platinum sponsors of Chief Brian James’ Unity Ride hosted by Riding High Harley-Davidson. This event benefited two outstanding Greensboro non-profits: United Way’s Family Success Center and Malachi House II. We also provided support for Operation PASS which puts backpacks full of school supplies in the hands of some of Guilford County’s most vulnerable students, and Operation Yuletide which brightens the holidays for good people in Greensboro who face tough circumstances.
At the start of 2021, we are more than prepared to pursue our mission, and we know that is due to our steadfast community of supporters who believe in our work. We are grateful, we are humbled, and we are moving forward.