The 100 Club Celebrates 55 Years!

– Board President, Mark Hacker – How long have you been a member of the 100 Club and how did you first get involved?  I became a member in 2014.  I got involved because the mission of the 100 Club aligned well with the mission of my company, Motorola Solutions — being there for our first responder communities when they need us most. How has your involvement with the 100 Club impacted your life?  My involvement with the 100 Club has had a tremendous impact on my life in that it has helped me gain an intimate understanding of and great appreciation for the selfless sacrifices that our first responder heroes and their families make each and every day to help keep us safe.  Because of what I have learned and experienced with the 100 Club, I never pass a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical service professional without saying “thank you.”  They truly are heroes. What does our 55th Anniversary mean to you?  Our 55th Anniversary is a powerful milestone that reminds us that our mission matters and our members are amazing.  For the 100 Club to celebrate 55 years, it means: (i) the support services we are providing are valuable and making a positive and powerful impact on people’s lives, (ii) our members are passionate, resilient, creative, and generous, and (iii) we are here to stay. What would you tell potential donors/members who are interested in supporting or joining the Club?  We are a mission-based organization with a pure and powerful purpose: providing resources and support both to the families of first responders killed in the line of duty and to active duty first responders throughout the State of Illinois.  If you are energized by that purpose, then the 100 Club is for you! – Board Chairman, Mike Meagher – How long have you been a member of the 100 Club and how did you first get involved?  I have been a member since approximately 2005 but feel like I have been since the 1970’s when my father was a member. I learned of the 100 Club as a young boy and grew up with great respect for First Responders as my father’s side of the family had a long steep history of Chicago Police officers. One of our closest family friends was Jim Rochford who was Chicago Police Superintendent (1974-1977) and 30-year CPD member, as a result I always felt an obligation to stand and support our first responders. How has your involvement with the 100 Club impacted your life?  I love my job and have been honored to serve on a few boards in various capacities, but nothing has impacted my life more than being able to help our 100 Club families. It has been the honor of my life to serve on the board of The 100 Club. The loss these families experience is absolutely devastating. It’s the privilege of a lifetime to be able to help these families grow and succeed despite the challenges. What does our 55th Anniversary mean to you?  I try to live for the future, so while we have a treasured valued past let’s look forward to the next 55 years of helping families flourish despite being handed life’s toughest challenge. I’m incredibly proud of the past but more excited for our future with programming and more support for families. I would have never guessed when I learned about The 100 Club as a young boy that I would be a part of helping the 100 Club go statewide. What would you tell potential donors/members who are interested in supporting or joining the Club?  There is not a better way to demonstrate support for first responders.