Badge of Heart’s 7th Annual Thanksgiving Fundraiser – Venice Paparazzi | Venice Beach CA, Photo Agency, Community Info, News, Events

Here is a message from Badge of Heart!

For Thanksgiving creating hope and opportunity to 400 Elementary Student families is our goal. This is our 7th Annual Thanksgiving program and 3,000 families have benefitted in the past years. It only takes $25 to help one family. $100 helps 4.

Donate now!

Venmo @badgeofheart
Go to badgeofheart.org/thanksgiving

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“Helping those in need for a better today”

Get to know Badge of Heart’s founder Ken Lew.

Tell us about the work your organization does and the programs you run?

We have helped 5,800 families since 2014! Badge of Heart is a 501(c)(3) non profit that’s designed to partner with the community to help police officers sponsor families in need (financial hardship & victim’s of crime). Our focus is to provide resources and assistance to officers who come across victim’s of crime and family hardship. Badge of Heart desires to connect officers with the opportunity to help others directly with either physical or financial burdens. We strive not only to give relief, but to show compassion to the people in our community.

How did the organization start? Where did the idea or inspiration come from?

To be honest, the organization began with onsite experience and an idea. Throughout my 29 years in LAPD as a patrol officer, I’ve been to thousands of homes throughout south, west, and downtown Los Angeles. I’ve seen many families struggle financially and emotionally. These are hard working families, including single moms, that just need a helping hand. I wanted to find a way to help and motivate these families in the right direction. In 2014 Badge of Heart was created. Since then we have helped over 1,900 families. This includes our annual turkey basket giveaway that helps out 500 families per year.

Photo courtesy of BadgeofHeart.org

Badge of Heart’s Annual Turkey Give-Away. Photos courtesy BadgeofHeart.org

How did you come up with the name of your nonprofit?

I wear a badge and we have a heart, thus Badge of Heart.

What would you say is the best thing about your organization?

The ability to help those in need. The smiles, cries and thank you’s that I hear are priceless, as are the emotions that we see on an individual basis and during our events, as well as the feedback that we hear from our community and business leaders.

What have been your biggest challenges?

Like most nonprofits, raising funds and finding good people for my team is the biggest challenge. Year after year we have increased our outreach, however, the funding has remained the same. Increased funding can really propel us into helping more of our Community.

How long have you been in business, and how has your organization changed or grown over time?

Badge of Heart started in the Q4 of 2014, and we have grown every year.

What are your goals for the next three to five years?

To continue our business model and add additional events to raise brand awareness. Year after year more officers and community members are reaching out to us for resources. We will continue to provide as long as our budget allows.

Badge of Heart’s Annual Turkey Give-Away. Photos courtesy BadgeofHeart.org

A FEW PERSONAL QUESTIONS:

Define success:

5 keys to success: Waking up, having a roof over your head, being with your family, having a job, and food on the table.

What advice would you give someone starting their own non profit?

You must put in 40-60 hours a week. I put in 80 hours a week, including my 40 hours at work. You must be patient, persistent and never get discourage when you hear the word “no!” You must eat, breath and think about your business 20 hours a day, including in your sleep. No kidding! When I have time, I do Bikram yoga and get massages.