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The Virginia State Police Association
is committed to helping Mike Smith!and
Your assistance is needed. |
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Updates |
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Fundraising Activities
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“Mike
Smith Family Celebration” - a Gospel and Bluegrass music
celebration planned for Saturday, January 26, 2008.
Campaign Updates:
- January 25, 2008 News from
M. Wayne Huggins.
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Please help the VSPA help a dedicated Public
Servant!
Mike Smith, a communications officer, serves in the
Virginia State Police Division Six Headquarters located
in Salem, Virginia, where he answers calls from the
public, troopers and special agents asking for
assistance. For fourteen years Mike has always been
there for you and I. Now Mike is in great need of our
help!
The VSPA has agreed to help Mike carry the financial
burden of purchasing a specially equipped van to enable
Mike to continue working - dispatching emergency
services to aid the public and taking care of his
troopers and special agents as they respond to protect
the public. You can help by contributing to the Virginia
State Police Association Emergency Relief Fund.
Donations are tax deductible and 100% of your
contribution will go to help Mike. Please indicate "for
Mike Smith" in the memo section and mail your check to
6944 Forest Hill Avenue, Richmond, Virginia 23225. If
you prefer, you can donate by credit card by calling the
VSPA Office at (804)320-6272. Janice or Sandra will be
glad to help you.
Mike's Captain brought this need to the attention of
the VSPA Board of Directors. Captain Richard A. Denney's
letter to the VSPA, which is copied below, descibes
Mike's dedication and service and provides details about
Mike's illness and financial need.
From Captain Richard A. Denney...
Mike Smith has been a Division Six Dispatcher for the
past 14 years and is an active member of the Virginia
State Police Association. He resides in Riner with his
wonderful supportive wife Cindy of 18 years and their
two daughters Samantha age 14 and Kimberly age 13. They
attend Auburn Baptist Church. Mike exerts more effort
getting to work than most of us exert during an entire
days work. He, Cindy and their two daughters get up at
4:30am every day to help get Mike ready for work. As a
result of the muscular dystrophy's progression Mike has
incurred enormous debt. His wife Cindy, who works for
the Montgomery County School system, has tapped into her
retirement. They have had to obtain a second mortgage to
pay medical expenses and are financially strapped.
Mike's disease has progressed to the point he has
lost use of his legs and arms. He is only able to move
his fingers and hands. As a result of the progression of
this terrible disease it has become imperative that he
purchase a specialty vehicle equipped with a joy stick
so he will be able to get to work everyday. He was
hopeful he could have his current vehicle fitted with
the equipment however; he was informed by the
manufacture that would be impossible. Leaving Mike no
choice but to purchase a vehicle that is capable of
having this special equipment installed at a cost of
$146,000. Through the generosity and kindness of others
$94,000.00 was given in the form of grants and rebates
which brought the total cost down to $52,000.00. This
still is an enormous financial burden for this family to
have to bear alone.
I as well as are many other members are aware of the
association purchasing two specialty vehicles for a
retired member paying the total cost. I see frequently
that the association has helped people in other states
as well. I commend the association for its kindness and
devotion to their members as well as to the needs of
others. We are not asking the association to pay the
full cost of this specialty vehicle but only the
remainder of what he has been unable to raise. Without
this vehicle Mike will not be able to work and due to
the enormous medical debt he has incurred from the
progression of this disease, he will not be able to
exist financially on disability.
I implore you in the spirit of human kindness and
generosity to help Mike, who is an association member,
purchase this much needed specialty equipment as you
have helped others. Thank you for your consideration and
help in this matter. I remain...
Sincerely,
Captain Richard A. Denney |
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Campaign Updates: |
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March 12, 2008 Update:
The “Mike Smith” fund continues to
grow rapidly. You will recall that the original goal set by
your Board was $52,000. At our Annual Conference this past
weekend Mike and his wife were presented a second check. They
had previously been given a check for $12,000 and Saturday they
were given a check for $13,000. Additionally, the activities at
the conference raised almost $9,000 bringing the total raised
thus far to about $34,000. If you have not heard, in an effort
to complete this project we are raffling off a brand new 2007
Harley Davidson Police Road King. We are offering 2,000 tickets
at $20 a ticket. Tickets are available from any member of the
Board as well as here at the Forest Hill Office of the VSPA.
The winner will be drawn on August 9th at our annual
family picnic in Bedford. You need not be present to win -
however the tickets are going very fast so if you are interested
please act quickly. |
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February 11, 2008 Update:
The Virginia State Police Association (VSPA)
is happy to report that the Bluegrass event to benefit
Mike Smith raised over 8,000 dollars.
Combined with the monies already
contributed to the VSPA - Emergency Relief Fund, over
21,000 dollars have been raised to assist Mike Smith and
his Family.
Way to go! Thank you all very much for
your support!
We still need to raise over 30,000
dollars more to pay off the remainder of the
Smith Family's debt on Mike's specially equipped van.
You can still join this effort
and make it possible for Mike to continue serving the
public as a state police communications officer. Please
make a tax deductible contribution in
Mike Smith's name to the:
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Virginia State Police Emergency Relief Fund
6944 Forest Hill Avenue
Richmond, Virginia 23225
You may call the Association Office if you have
questions, need additional information or would like
to use a credit card to make a contribution. Ask
for Sandra Winfree or Janice Bowry.
Phone: 804.320.6272
Fax: 804.320.2616
Email: vspa@vspa.org
(Write "Mike Smith Fund" in the memo section of
your check.)
100% of your contribution will be presented to the
Chapman Family. |
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January 25,
2008 Update: Through January
25, 2008,
together we have raised $13,380 for Mike Smith and his family. Of
this amount, $12,000 has already been delivered to Mike. Our goal
is $52,000 and a number of additional fundraising activities are
planned including a “Mike Smith Family Celebration” which
will be held Saturday evening, January 26, 2008. This is a Gospel
and Bluegrass music celebration that will begin at 5:30 p.m., at the
Christiansburg High School. Food and refreshments will be
available. As I mentioned other activities are being planned to
include both silent and live auctions and a raffle at our upcoming
Annual Conference in Virginia Beach. If you have not yet donated
and would like to, please make checks payable to the VSPA –
Emergency Relief Fund and in the memo field of the check please
note, “Mike Smith Fund.”
Thanks to all who have so generously contributed so far!!
M. Wayne Huggins |
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October 26, 2007 Message from M. Wayne
Huggins:
All Members,
Help us help Mike!! The VSPA is embarking upon its most ambitious
special fundraising drive ever. Mike Smith has been a Division Six
Dispatcher and active member of the VSPA for 14 years. Mike is
suffering from a deteriorating case of muscular dystrophy. Mike and his
wonderful wife, Cindy, have two daughters, Samantha, age 14 and
Kimberly, age 13. Because of his special needs Mike and his family
have enormous financial needs. Those needs have recently escalated due
to his deteriorating condition and as a result the need for a new
specially equipped van. In an effort to be able to purchase the
equipped van he needs Cindy had to borrow approximately $10,000 from her
annuity and they have taken out a second mortgage on their home. He was
hoping to have his current vehicle equipped with the features he now
needs however he was informed that would be impossible . Thus the need
for a new van. That van with the various features he must have to
continue his employment will cost $146,000. Because of the generosity
and kindness of others approximately $94,000 of that has been raised
leaving Mike and his family with a balance of about $52,000. Mike’s
need for the van is immediate or he may not be able to continue
working. The van is now here in Richmond being equipped and he hopes to
take possession in about 3 to 4 weeks. The VSPA has decided to do 2
things. In the short term we are going to make his monthly payments for
him and in the longer term we are going to begin trying to raise as much
of the balance, $52,000, (hopefully all of it) as is possible. Over the
next several months the VSPA is going to be coordinating a number of
“Emergency Relief” fundraising activities for this cause. Many of those
activities are currently being planned and as details become available
we will let you know. In the meantime we are asking our members to
support this very worthwhile effort. You may make direct contributions,
which are tax deductible, to the VSPA’s Emergency Relief Fund. Please
make your contributions to “VSPA Emergency Relief Fund” and in the memo
field of your check please note “Mike Smith”.
If you know Mike and his family you know what remarkably inspiring
people they are. Beyond all else Mike wants to continue working and
supporting his family. This can only happen if they receive this much
needed assistance. With the holidays rapidly approaching we hope each
of you will take the time to help Mike and his family. God Bless!
Wayne
Mailing Address:
ERF - Mike Smith
c/o Virginia State Police Association
6944 Forest Hill Avenue
Richmond, VA 2322 |
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