Citizens who want to offer more than moral support to their local police departments don’t always know where to begin.
That’s not the case for residents who live and work in the City of Moore, thanks to the newly formed Moore Police Advancing Community Foundation, or MPAC.
Established by an active group of citizen volunteers, the foundation’s beginnings were a natural outgrowth that began more than a decade ago with the establishment of the Moore Crimestoppers hotline program in 2008, said MPAC Board of Directors President Steve Shawn.
For years he and a group of other dedicated Moore residents actively raised funds to underwrite the costs for the city’s Crimestoppers program, which provides cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of criminals.
“The police chief came to us asking if we could create a foundation that was a bit broader so we could do a few additional things to further the department’s outreach programs, and we said we could do that,” Steve explained. “That’s when MPAC was created.”
The nonprofit is classified as a 501(c)3, meaning all donations are tax exempt.
“Our goal is simple—to support the police department with our community involvement and to help underwrite projects that currently lack funding,” he said.
“That in turn supports the broader underlying goal to educate the public, support our at-risk youth and aid the police department’s efforts to become more closely integrated into the community.”
In addition to ongoing funding for Crimestoppers, so far MPAC also provides financial assistance to the “Shop with a Cop” Christmas gift program, “Cops & Bobbers” children’s fishing event, ad “Burgers & Badges” and “National Night Out,” along with additional needed equipment and gear. It also provides support to the Moore Cadet Academy and the Moore Junior Police Academy.
Its chief fundraiser is an annual Hometown Heroes banquet, which recognizes the Moore police officers of the year and other outstanding citizens from the community. Longtime Moore Mayor Glen Lewis and music legend/Moore resident Toby Keith were posthumously recognized at this year’s banquet.
The foundation’s most ambitious goal to date is to create a “Safety Town” in Moore, similar to the location at Norman’s Sooner Mall in Norman, Steve said. These mini “towns” allow schoolchildren and the general public to learn about bicycle, pedestrian and personal safety rules, while having fun and interacting with members of the police department.
“I’m not sure who has more fun at these events, the officers or the kids,” Steve noted.
“I am very proud to say we back the blue in Moore, Oklahoma," he added. "Our police officers are part of the neighborhood and our city, and this is a nice way we can give back.”
Steve has been involved with the Crimestoppers program since its beginnings, has lived in Moore for over 50 years, and is retired from the Moore-based Silver Star Construction Company.
“I’ve always been civic minded,” he said. “But our entire board is that way as well. Everyone works hard. We don’t just sit in meetings and vote yes or no—we’re very hands-on in raising funds and publicizing the program. All contributions to the MPAC foundation are tax exempt, and donors can earmark their funds to any specific program.
The foundation maintains a presence on all social media channels @mpacfoundation and more information is available by calling Susan Ruth at 405.793.5139 or emailing moorempac@gmail.com. Contributions also can be mailed to the Moore Police Advancing Community Foundation, PO Box 7714, Moore, OK 73153.