Rescuing
Responders STORY BY KAREN RANFT
W
henever people find themselves needing help or in dangerous situations, first responders come to their aid, frequently putting the wellbeing of others above their own safety. When these men and women are the ones in need, it can be hard to know where to look for aid. That’s when the Guadalupe County 100 Club comes to the rescue. 100 Club president Angela Mark appreciates the struggle police, firefighters, EMS personnel, and others may face when tragedy strikes their own lives. “Nobody ever thinks about these things until their heartstrings are pulled,” she said. “The money in our account is for first responders who are injured or killed in the line of duty, and thankfully we don’t use that money often. Instead, we try to give back once a year by offering grants to our first responders.”
PHOTO BY LIZZ DANIELS
Mark helped found the Guadalupe County 100 Club back in 2010 after hearing about a group of police officers involved in a shooting. This heartbreaking story hit close to home and inspired her to help first responders in her community any way possible. “My husband was a detention officer at the Guadalupe County jail at the time, and it bothered me to see that these people had lost their lives,” she said. “I wanted to do something to help protect our local law enforcement, so I asked the Chief at the time how we could help show our appreciation for everything they do.” What the chief told them was he would love to see Guadalupe county get a 100 Club to take care of those who risk so much to protect, and care for, others. Since its debut, the 100 Club has provided annual grants to emergency
