Aftermath Awards Why We Serve Grants to Police Departments in Texas and Georgia

Last week, we had the opportunity to award not one, but two law enforcement agencies with grants as part of the Aftermath #WhyWeServe Grant. Aftermath established the Why We Serve Grant last year to proudly recognize the spirit of volunteerism embodied by our nation’s law enforcement and to acknowledge them for their ongoing efforts to serve, protect, and improve the communities in which we both serve.

On today’s blog, we’re introducing you to these officers and the organizations they support. Read on to learn about these incredible everyday heroes and their work:

Pflugerville and Round Rock Police Departments

On the first part of our trip, we had the honor of presenting the Pflugerville and Round Rock Police Departments with a grant of $2,500 toward The Blue Guardians Mentor Program. As part of the program, the two departments came together to support the Texas Baptist Children’s Home (TBCH), which provides for abused and neglected children in Central Texas.

Officers from both departments volunteer their time to the Blue Guardian Program, which helps these children see law enforcement in a different light and learn about the importance of giving back. These children are exposed to a special view of law enforcement and can bridge a gap in their communities where fear may be instilled. They are also exposed to community service, which allows them to experience feeling good about their contribution and doing something worthwhile for the community they live in.

Since the organization’s founding, the two police departments have hosted a variety of activities with TBCH including Lake Runs, basketball tournaments, and summer educational life classes. Chief Jessica Robledo of the Pflugerville Police Department is looking forward to using some of the grant funds to host the first ever TBCH Dodgeball Tournament, complete with a hamburger cookout. Congratulations to this amazing team of officers! We look forward to sharing the news about your accomplishments.

Alpharetta Police Department

As part of our exciting week, we also had the pleasure to meet and present a very special someone with a $3,000 a grant! Congratulations to K9 Raider, Ofc. Ritchey (Alpha), and the Alpharetta Police Department for coming in a very close 2nd in the Aftermath #WhyWeServe Grant.

While Raider and Alpha have only been serving the Alpharetta community for two years, their impact has been felt far and wide. Raider is a part of the Public Safety K9 Unit of Alpharetta. With her minute stature and irresistible adorableness, she is a staple in the community, helping everyone from the young to the old and everyone in between.  Aftermath is honored to support her mission in changing perceptions of law enforcement one head scratch at a time.

We are also happy to announce that the Why We Serve Grant has had a ripple effect, drawing attention from local media and businesses to step up and match our grant, making the total award to $6,000!! Thank you to KICKS 101.5 FM, Cadillac Jack, and Van Sant Law!

Furthermore, Raider decided to share the award with an equally fantastic organization – iCanBike Alpharetta, headed by Ofc. Amanda Clay. Each year, iCanBike Alpharetta puts on a camp for 40 kids with disabilities and teaches them to ride two-wheel bikes, giving them a chance to experience a thrill that all kids deserve to experience. We will be featuring a special blog with them soon, so keep an eye out!

About the Grant