Greensboro Police Foundation 2021 Annual Report
Over the past ten years, the Greensboro Police Foundation has had to overcome significant challenges, starting with the loss of our visionary founder, Frank Mascia. The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has tested our resilience, but we are resolute in the pursuit of our mission. We are so proud of what we achieved in 2021.
Tremendous progress has been made on our newest initiative, the second site of Safety Town at Barber Park. When it opens this summer, Safety Town at Barber Park will significantly increase access to this educational program that has operated in Greensboro for over 40 years. As a result, hundreds of young children in Greensboro will learn about safety, and hundreds of teen volunteers will have the opportunity to serve in their communities. Safety Town at Barber Park is the result of an outstanding partnership between the Greensboro Police Foundation, the Greensboro Police Department, the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, Koury Corporation, Allen Industries, and many more local organizations.
In July 2021, a $57,000 state-of-the-art FireArms Training Simulator, a gift from the foundation, was installed at the Public Safety Training Facility. The simulator prepares cadets and officers for the real-life scenarios they will encounter on the job. They are trained to make split-second decisions in the midst of dynamic situations, and deploy the appropriate use of force.
Although our Quarterly Recognition Luncheon program was on pause due to safety concerns, we supported Greensboro Police Department officers and employees in other ways. We sponsored the virtual Police & Citizens’ Awards Ceremony, and we hosted 200 officers and family members at a Greensboro Grasshoppers game where each game ticket came with $10 in Babes’ Bucks to be used anywhere inside the park.
The memorial flower fund continues to operate, and last year we purchased over 40 floral arrangements and plants to honor those we lost in the GPD family. One such loss was Sergeant William “Bill” White who died after a long illness in March 2021. Bill’s family partnered with the police foundation to establish a scholarship in his name for the children of GPD officers and employees. In 2022, we will be awarding the first Sergeant William White Memorial Scholarship. We look forward to giving out this award for many years to come.
We are always happy to play a role in several of the GPD’s community outreach initiatives, including Operation PASS, Operation Yuletide, and the Chief’s Charity Ride. This year Operation PASS distributed over 450 backpacks filled with school supplies to Guilford County students. Operation Yuletide was a tremendous success, making the holidays brighter for 55 families, 5 individual teens, and 150 seniors. We helped to raise over $14,000 for Communities In Schools through the Chief’s Charity Ride that took place at Riding-High Harley-Davidson in September 2021.
We have much to look forward to in 2022, including the return of our signature fundraiser, The Blue Salute, taking place on Friday, April 22, 2022 at Piedmont Hall in Greensboro. In the words of our Board President, Dr. Patty Potter, “We just want our community to thrive, and be a safe place to live.” With the support that our community demonstrates, we will be able to do just that.