The BackStoppers, Inc. Police Officers' and Firefighters' Fund is a federal tax exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.[1] Founded in 1959,[2] the BackStoppers provides ongoing needed financial assistance and support to the spouses and dependent children of all police officers, firefighters and volunteer firefighters, and publicly-funded paramedics and EMTs who have lost their lives in the line of duty in 18 counties in Missouri and Illinois.[3][4][5] The BackStoppers also provides assistance to first responders who suffer a catastrophic injury performing their duty.[6][7][8]
Assistance
The BackStoppers' ongoing assistance eliminates the surviving family's debt, provides health, dental, and vision insurance coverage, reimburses for out-of-pocket medical expenses, covers tuition and educational costs from day care through university, pays home insurance, real estate taxes, and property taxes, and assists with miscellaneous extraordinary expenses.[9][10][11]