In 2006, the sudden death of Key West Police Detective John Piskator left his family in a dire situation. They needed help, but all his fellow officers could do was pass a hat and try to raise money.
The Love Fund was born of that tragedy and has been active for the past 16 years.
“It was established in 2006 to help officers and support personnel facing almost any catastrophe imaginable, whether a death in the family, illness, damage to their homes, or other abnormalities that threaten their ability to serve their community. The fund also supports spouses and children of officers killed in the line of duty or who die of natural causes as a result of extraordinary pressures created by the profession, including scholarships for the children of these officers.” states the fund’s website.
One department employee has been working tirelessly to raise money for the Love Fund ever since it helped them pay their bills during cancer treatments.
The primary fundraiser for the fund is the annual Love Fund Ball, which will take place this year from 6 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Opal Key Resort.
The ball could not happen for the past two years due to the COVID pandemic, but is back this year with a vengeance.
The Roaring ’20s is this year’s theme. The event features dinner, dancing, music, an open bar and a silent auction. There’s also an online raffle and auction that’s now live at https://one.bidpal.net/lovefundball2022. Click on “All Items” on the left to see the online auction items.
Tickets are $150 per person. Visit the Key West Police Department Love Fund on Facebook for a link to buy tickets and bid on the online auction items. For more information, contact Dorian Patton at 305-809-3782 and Joelle Deese at 305-809-3866.
