Heroes need a little help sometimes

By STU CLAMPITT
news@readthereporter.com

The Heroes Club annual fundraiser will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6 at the 3UP Rooftop, 201 W. Main St., Carmel. The Reporter spoke to Heroes Club Communications Director Bob Russell about the work this relatively unknown organization does for first responders serving the Carmel community.

“The Heroes Club provides financial assistance and resources for the fine women and men of the Carmel Police Department, the Carmel Fire Department, as well as members of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police who serve the city of Carmel and Clay Township,” Russell told The Reporter.

The Heroes Club was formed in 1996 by a group of Carmel businessmen who recognized the need to support local heroes and their families in their times of need, especially if they die in the line of duty. Now they also provide supplementary insurance for counseling.

“We’ve expanded beyond the $400,000 accidental death policy that we fund – which we believe is the largest in the country – we’ve expanded the coverages to include mental health benefits for first responders, which is very important right now,” Russell said. “We fill in some of the gaps that their own benefits from their departments provide. This is relatively new for us. We just started this year. For the emotional and psychological challenges of such a stressful position, should they need counseling, that’s what it is for.”

The Heroes Club also helps entire departments with grants in times of financial need.

“In times of budget shortfalls for the departments, they might reach out to us for a grant to cover a budget shortfall for equipment or training,” Russell said. “We recently helped fund a new kennel for the Carmel Police Department for their K-9 unit.”

The Tuesday event in Carmel is not the organization’s only fundraiser this year.

There will also be a polo match fundraiser at Hickory Hall Polo Club, 7551 E. County Road 100 North, Whitestown, on June 20, and a Golf4Heroes fundraiser at Twin Lakes Golf Club, 3200 W. 96th St., Carmel, on Sept. 8.

You can learn more about The Heroes Club online at TheHeroesClub.org, and about particular events at TheHeroesClub.org/events. If you would like to attend the fundraiser on Tuesday, please email Bob Russell at Info@TheHeroesClub.org.