Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Barreda-Alvarado.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My oldest son, Corporal Rick Barreda, DFW Airport DPS was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 14th, 1997. I worked with COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) with families that had lost a loved one for 15 years… During that time, I saw there were “injured peace officers” that needed help. They were suffering life-altering injuries, getting fired from their jobs, denied surgeries by work comp, and many broken spirits that needed help not only financially, but emotionally, suffering physically injuries was just the beginning of a long journey for each one. I started Peace Officers’ Angels Foundation in memory of my son in 2012 to serve all 254 counties in Texas with emphasis on our small departments in rural areas that may be staffed 3 or 4 peace officers. We are not a big fundraising organization but we are consistent in assisting those that need us and we continue to keep them on our radar. It’s easy to write a check and walk away. We make effort to include our injured officers in events, special gift at Christmas, visit in hospitals, make visits, remain in touch through their journey to recovery. Our board consists of injured officers and includes a diverse group of caring and kind individuals. All of our board are volunteers. We do not pay any salaries. Our motto is “no donation is too small to make a big difference” My favorite verse that I try to live by is Proverbs 3:27. Thank you. Our headquarters is in Arlington. We meet quarterly. We have a chaplain, Julie Meeks and we depend on our POAF Field Reps that help us cover our great state.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We started our 501 c3 organization with a donation of $25 from a mother of a fallen Dallas officer, Mark Nix.
After assisting our first officer, we did not know where our money was going to come from if we had another line of duty injury… Lots of prayers went up, and volunteers came forward that believed in what we were doing and wanted to help us. After all the hoopla, the media, our officers returned home to face that journey alone. At times it took seven or more surgeries, some never returned back to the job they loved. Some grew despondent and withdrew.
We worked hard to raise funds and never gave up on our injured. We understood their broken spirits and the need to get well and care for their families. The need to get back to doing what they were called to do.
We still need sponsors/funds to bring our injured officers together for a retreat at Beaumont Ranch in Grandview. These officers enjoy the time bonding with others that have suffered injuries and understand.
Peace Officers’ Angels Foundation – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Who We Are: 501 c3 Non-profit organization in Texas www.poaf.org FB page: Peace Officers’ Angels Foundation
What We Do: We assist critically injured peace officers in Texas. We serve our brave men and women behind the badge. City, State, and County.
We are known for the kindness and tender hearts that everyone associated with POAF shares, with our injured. Those we assist tell us they want to help the next injured officer that comes along and pay it forward.
Special Note: When I did the research on organizations in Texas that helped injured officers, only ATO in Dallas and Houston were functioning and they served only Dallas and Harris County in Houston. There were no organizations that were “exclusively for the INJURED” Since we started, many more have come up and this is a true blessing! Laws have been introduced for our injured, and work comp cases are looked at differently. We have pioneered the way for eyes to open regarding our injured men and women that proudly and bravely serve our communities. They are our neighbors, our families, our friends raising their families side by side in our communities.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Proudest moment was watching one of our injured officers walking up to baseball mound to throw out the first pitch at a Texas Ranger game. To see an amputee smiling proudly at his family as he/she are doing something with thousands of fans watching and standing. Seeing the faces of spouses at hospitals as you walk up to sit with them as their loved ones are in surgery. Receiving a check in the mail from an elderly person I do not know, but she is sharing a little of her monthly social security check because she believes in what we are doing. Children dropping pennies in our blue water jugs that say Coins for Cops and feeling they are a part of the help for officers injured.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.poaf.org
- Phone: 817 946-9806
- Email: Info@poaf.org or Maria804@tx.rr.com
- Instagram: poaforg
- Facebook: Peace Officers’ Angels Foundation
- Twitter: @poaforg
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