P.O. Box 901, Prosser WA 99350 /wspmemorialfoundation@gmail.com / 360.597.4411

Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation

Fiscal Year Update - 10/01/2023 through 9/30/2024

 

We, the Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation, are entrusted to preserve the memory of Washington State Patrol fallen officers and to provide assistance to active and retired Washington State Patrol employees and their families in times of need.

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The Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (WSPMF) was created in 1982. We have provided more than $2.5 million in financial assistance to Washington State Patrol employees and their families. 

 

All proceeds from the annual memorial dinner are placed into our Fallen Scholarship Fund to provide assistance for the children and spouses of our fallen officers to attend up to four years of college. The WSPMF has assisted ten children with their college expenses.  We have five additional children to assist in the future.

 

Christian Frink, son of Steven Frink, who died in the line of duty on March 22, 1993, graduated from Western Washington University in 2012. 

 

Megan and Jim Saunders, children of Trooper James Saunders, who died in the line of duty on October 7, 1999, both attended the University of Washington. Megan graduated in 2018. Jim graduated in 2021. Megan has continued her education and is attending Gonzaga Law School.

 

Emily, Erin, Kailey, Erik and Kyle, children of Detective Brent Hanger, who died in the line of duty on August 6, 2015, attended Western Washington University, University of Washington, and Skagit Valley College. Emily, Erin and Kailey have graduated. Erik is currently attending Western Washington University.

 

Gedeon and Olivia, children of Trooper S. Renee Padgett, who died in the line of duty on September 4, 2018, are both attending Washington State University. 

 

The WSPMF has provided a total of $34,050 to Erik Hanger and Gedeon Padgett Lagasse to attend college this past year.  

 

The scholarship program for WSP employees, their spouses, and children is in its 33rd year. The WSPMF awarded seven new scholarships and five renewable scholarships to families of the Washington State Patrol in the last fiscal year. Our scholarship assistance this year totals $11,500 and we were able to help 11 individuals with their educational expenses.

 

This year, our Farrington Scholarship Fund began. The WSPMF was gifted a lot of property in Shelton back in the 1980s. The WSPMF executive board voted to sell the property and use the funds from the sale to create a scholarship in the name of the property donors, for a trade school applicant. We awarded our first recipient a one time, $3,000 scholarship.

 

While much of the assistance provided by the WSPMF is confidential in nature, the WSPMF is proud to disclose its involvement in the following activities:

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·       The 42nd annual WSP Memorial Foundation dinner was held on April 13, 2024, at the Tulalip Casino & Resort in Marysville, WA. We had 655 attendees at the dinner and through donations, our live and silent auction, we were able to raise $79,428.31.

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·       Our Ride to Remember event was held on June 15, 2024. We had 20 participants who made five stops over the 6-hour ride. We ended the evening at WIT Cellars in Prosser with a BBQ dinner and raffles. During this event, we were able to raise $1,287.00 for the foundation.

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·       We assisted with the 25th Saunders Golf Tournament on August 16, 2024, at the Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick, WA. We had 30 full teams golf and ended the day with a taco bar dinner. During this event, we were able to raise $9,491.00 for our Fallen Scholarship Fund.

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·       The 2nd annual Memorial Miles event was held at the WSP academy in Shelton on September 21-22, 2024. This event was a 24-hour march to honor our 33 fallen. During the 24 hours, we raised $5,385 in donations and participants walked over 628 miles.  

 

The WSPMF currently has 575 contributing members, donating at least $10 per month. We have 538 supporting members, donating $5 per month. To be a voting member of the WSPMF, you must contribute $10 per month or $5 per pay period. This minimal deduction goes a long way toward helping WSP families in times of need. If you would like to be a contributing member of the WSPMF, or would like to increase your monthly donation, please request the form from Megan King at wspmemorialfoundation@gmail.com or (360) 597-4411.

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The 43rd Annual Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation Dinner will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino in Spokane, WA.

 

Please join us to honor our officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.