This post was originally published on the Blog of a 100 Club Supporter, Maddy Rose.
“Last night I had the privilege of meeting Maddy Rose. Maddy is 13 years old and an amazing young lady. She won a BBQ themed basket (which was made by her mother, Jenifer Anseth from MR Designs & Gifts) in a raffle at a networking event I was attending. Maddy thought it would be a great idea to auction off this basket so that she could raise some money for a charity that she supports, the 100 Club of Arizona.
I really didn’t know what the 100 Club was, so I listened as Maddy told us that it was a non-profit organization that supports firefighters and police officers and their families. Coming from a family of firefighters, I was intrigued. When she mentioned that the 100 Club supports the families of fallen firefighters, my heart skipped a beat. I bid on the basket, and won. (I did ask Maddy if the basket came with a single fireman, but bummer, it didn’t!)
When Maddy presented me with the basket I asked her about this organization and how she chose to support it. I thought she would have firefighters or police officers in her family. She said that she didn’t. She told me about how she looked at many non-profit organizations and went to the bottom of the list she was reviewing. She thought that going to the bottom of the list and choosing something from there may help an organization that is not so well known or supported. Her and her family researched the 100 Club and Maddy decided that this was the organization she would stand for. I was practically in tears at this point. Such an amazing young girl with such a passion for contribution.
I told Maddy about my family of firefighters. My grandfather, father, three brothers, a brother-in-law, and a nephew are or were New York City Firefighters. I also have three nephews that are volunteer firefighters that are waiting to get on the NYFD. The reason this touched me so deeply is because my brother Eddie, who was a NYFD Chief, was the person in New York that planned every funeral for fallen firefighters for years. Eddie volunteered to do this because he wanted to show respect to the firefighters and their families and make sure that the families were cared for. I lost my brother Eddie and my brother-in-law Tommy on September 11th. One of my brothers helped plan many of the funerals or memorial services that took place following 9/11. What really hit home for me is that the families of fallen firefighters and police officers from 9/11 have been well taken care of by a “world” community, yet the families of the fallen heroes after 9/11 do not receive this type of support. That is what the 100 Club of Arizona does. Through Maddy Rose, I found an organization that provides comfort and support to people that truly deserve it. I did not even know this organization existed until now.
Maddy has been selling artwork that she creates to raise funds for the 100 Club. I not only love her passion for giving back, I love that her passion connected me with my brother in an amazing way last night. Thank you Maddy Rose – and thank you to all of the firefighters, police officers and their families for your service to all of us. I am grateful to the 100 Club for the difference they make in people’s lives.”
By: Maureen Geraght
Contributing Author
