The Fallen Officers scholarships support students in name of community heroes

One Naples couple is helping send students to school while honoring our community’s heroes.

“It makes me feel good to know that not only am I continuing the legacy of my father, but also of these fallen officers,” said Rosemary Zore, the founder of The Fallen Officers.

Zore honors her father and other law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty through the Fallen Officers Scholarships.

“We have 29 fallen officers and two canines and Lee and Collier County, so what better way to remember their sacrifice than to help educate their legacy so we wanted to do something that helps the community,” she said.

Through her foundation’s events like the Blue Bowl and Blues for the Blue, she and her husband, Mike Randall, raise money to award students in the name of a fallen officer.

“To not only mention their name and their picture but to give that recipient that scholarship and the families out there will feel heartwarmth about it, they don’t wanna forget the sacrifice of their fallen hero,” Randall said.

Fallen heroes like Adam Jobbers-Miller.

“When I got chosen for the first Adam Jobbers-Miller scholarship, I was so excited because I actually made bears for the Adam Jobbers-Miller family. Now I have people that are truly investing in my future and care about what I’m doing with my life. I’m gonna go to UCF in the fall I’m double majoring in nonprofit management and psychology,” said Megan O’Grady.

O’Grady’s “Blue Line Bears” also benefit the families of fallen officers. she’s the daughter of 27-year law enforcement veteran Patrick O’Grady.

“There’s been a lot of negativity around police officers and anyone in law enforcement. If you care about officers, show it! Go to the police station, make a phone call, mail a card to the station, ‘Hey we still support you.’ Anything right now will go a long way and once get positivity back it can boost your spirits and they’re very appreciative for it,” Patrick O’Grady said.

Showing appreciation for our officers is something you can count on this Naples couple to continue doing.

Their gala this October will honor fallen officers and recognize people receiving scholarships.

To be eligible for a scholarship, you must have a family member who is in law enforcement or retired from law enforcement, a 2.5 GPA and a write-up about why you are applying for the scholarship in the fallen officer’s name.

For more information or to apply, click here.