About PSAT

Public Safety Assistance Trust, Inc.

2641 North Magnolia Avenue

Ocala , Florida 34474

(352)732-3690

History

The “Public Safety Assistance Trust” was founded as a support organization for the public safety community of Ocala , Marion County, Florida, to assist employees and their families in times of critical need. This need is most often financial, but has extended to other areas as well. PSAT offers assistance to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical responders, full time civilian employees and their families in Ocala , Marion County, Florida, and includes federal, state, county, and municipal agencies.

In the past four years alone, numerous public safety employees have sustained injuries or death in the line of duty or have been stricken by a catastrophic event which has affected the employee or his immediate family. In 2004 a Marion County Deputy was killed in the line of duty after responding to a well being check in a retirement community. In 2005, an Ocala Police Officer was at work when he collapsed, unconscious during the performance of his duties. He was later diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor which had gone undetected. In 2006 the spouse of an Ocala Police Officer gave premature birth, both the mother and child died as a result of complications.

At that time no organized resources or organization was in place to assist the employees or their family members who were facing devastating situations. The responsibilities of “PSAT” are twofold. First, to provide financial assistance to employees who are suffering from a chronic or terminal illness or the victim of a catastrophic circumstance. Second, to aid in providing survivor and educational, assistance through programs which offer benefits to the spouses and children of public safety employees killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

After three devastating hurricanes struck or directly impacted the Marion County area in 2004 and 2005, “PSAT” could have stepped in to assist those employees whose homes and lives were impacted by the storms, through cash advances, supplying rebuilding materials and necessities such as food, water, and clothing or providing labor through it’s members to assist in the physical needs caused by the tragedy.

The Organization

Public Safety Assistance Trust “PSAT” is a public and private cooperative effort, established to assist employees serving with a public safety agency within Marion County, Florida. All employees of public safety agencies, which include federal, state, and local organizations, operating within the geographical boundaries of Marion County, Florida are open for enrollment. The Board of Directors will meet regularly to discuss and vote on various assistance cases, fund-raisers, and other matters pertinent to the operation of the organization. Presently the organization comprises of representatives from twenty-one public safety agencies within Marion County, Florida.

Mission and Goals

The mission of “PSAT” is stated in the organization’s Articles of Incorporation, Article II, Section 1: “The Trust is for charitable purposes, established to benefit employees and their families of public safety agencies within Marion County, Florida by providing monetary and non-monetary assistance when needs arise due to death, disability, illness, injury or catastrophic circumstance.”

The goals of “PSAT” are clear: to secure the necessary funding through donations, fund-raisers and grants, in order to support the aforementioned mission; to facilitate financial assistance whenever needed; and to continue to be a vital charitable organization within the public safety community of Marion County, Florida.

Assistance

“Financial Assistance” program provides short and long term financial assistance due to becoming disabled or who has suffered a debilitating illness or when specialized care of a disabled or chronically ill child has created an undue financial hardship on their family. Interest free loans for short or long term situations where financial relief will be recovered by insurance or civil liabilities in the future, with the understanding that the loan will be repaid upon payment by the insurance company.

“Educational Assistance” program is designed to aid in providing educational assistance to programs available through both the private and public communities, such as the “Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Program” and the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program which includes the Public Safety Officers' Educational Assistance (PSOEA) Program. The PSOEA Program provides assistance for higher education for the spouses and children of federal, state, and local public safety officers who have been killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty and educational assistance as defined by Florida State Statute440.16(c) and 112.19(2)(3).

“Ocala/Marion County Police Memorial”and the “Firefighters Memorial” dedicated to the memory of all Police Officers and Firefighters who were killed in the line of duty in Marion County and will sponsor the annual police memorial program.

“ Holiday Gifts for Surviving Children” program is designed to remember the minor children of public safety employees who died in the line of duty or while on active duty. All children whose parent has died in the line of duty or while on active duty will be included in the holiday gifts for surviving children program.

It is hopeful that through the coming years, “PSAT” will grow and will be able to provide additional programs and assistance.

Raising the Funds

“PSAT” will strive to host fund-raisers that are professional and productive as well as an enjoyable experience for members, participants, sponsors, and attendees. With its inception, “PSAT” hopes to be able to raise funds by a variety of means such as: annual golf tournaments, 5K Run/Walks and participation in community events along with the sale of products. Operating expenses for the fund-raisers will be procured from the proceeds and administrative costs will routinely be kept to a minimum.

Other funding will be provided through private and corporate donations, grants and membership enrollment with payroll deductions. Donations to “PSAT” will also be from donations through the “United Way”, which will allow personnel from state, county and municipal agencies to write in “Public Safety Assistance Trust” whenthey complete their contributors’ cards. Donations also can be made through the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #129, by indicating on their gift that it is for the “Public Safety Assistance Trust”.

“PSAT” will continually engage in activities that will ensure that the needs of its members are met and participate in events that promote good will between the participating agencies and the citizens of Ocala , Marion County, Florida.

Conclusion

The tragedy and loss experienced by employees of the public safety agencies of Marion County was the impetus that created “PSAT”. Its desire to flourish will be due to the generosity and compassion of the citizens and the business community of Ocala , Marion County along with its members within the local public safety organizations. Each donation and fund-raiser will help to offset the financial burdens associated with illness, injury, disability and death. Without the funds to perpetuate its programs, “PSAT” will be unable to provide the assistance in the time of a catastrophic event.

“PSAT’s” motto expresses its ideology succinctly, “Serving Those Who Serve”.