LCSO announces newly established Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation and new partnership with Mama Mocha’s Coffee Roastery
LEE COUNTY, Ala. (WRBL) – The Lee County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday that they newly established a charitable foundation and also launched its first fundraiser for the foundation with Mama Mocha’s Coffee Roastery.
LCSO says the foundation will enable the sheriff’s office to expand its community programs, outreach and training initiatives through collaborating with local businesses to make tax-deductible donations to the foundation.
In consideration of our mission of service to the community, establishing the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation provides us an additional opportunity to engage in partnerships with organizations that work for the betterment of Lee County. Whether it is promoting education and training for public safety or assisting to enhance the safety of our citizens, we are excited to engage in making our great community even better.
Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Foundation Board of Directors will oversee the foundation, which includes orchestrating fundraisers and making fund distribution decisions. The foundation’s board of directors includes Jessica Henderson, Carlton Hunley IV, Jay Jones, Russell Jones and Carlyn Sadler.
Current board member Carlton Hunley IV expressed his excitement to aid with the sheriff’s office mission to advance the local community.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to be a member of the Board of Directors for the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation. I have always admired Sheriff Jones, but I know that he does not do his work alone. The staff in his office, and most of all, the law enforcement officers who get in a vehicle each day and pledge to keep our community safe are such a reflection of the Sheriff’s office! I am truly humbled to join the Board for this foundation that is not only going to represent our community well, but also will truly be a part of giving to the community.”
The first program the foundation is looking to aid, the Clear the List Campaign, is aimed at helping teachers in Lee County complete classroom wish lists for the 2024-2025 academic year.
During the summer of 2023, LCSO says the sheriff’s office received more than 150 lists from local educators. LCSO says although citizens and local businesses helped fulfill as many wish lists as possible, there are many wish lists left unfulfilled. Through the new foundation, LCSO aims to increase the amount of teachers who receive help.
“Within the Sheriff’s Office, we were looking for ways to expand our community outreach efforts. The Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation will help us to do that by allowing us to seek out support for programs like Clear the List and R.A.D. Self-Defense classes. Teachers spend so much money out of their pockets to make their classrooms the best environment for learning that they can. The ability to reach more teachers and help with that through Clear the List is one of the things that I am most excited about. As we grow and expand, one of my long-term goals for the Foundation is also to be able to collaborate with other local organizations to reach their goals as part of our community outreach.”
Board Member Jessica Henderson
Along with launching the foundation, LCSO is partnering with Mama Mocha’s Coffee Roastery, a locally owned business based in Opelika, Alabama, for its first fundraiser, Cruiser Caffeine.
LCSO says Cruiser Caffeine is a “medium roast, hand-selected by Mama Mochas herself that is approachable, chocolatey and clean.” Cruiser Caffeine coffee costs $16 per bag and LCSO said half of the profit [$8] goes to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Foundation. The Cruiser Caffeine is available for pre-sale until March 21.
For more information about the foundation or Cruiser Caffeine, email lcsofoundation@leecountysheriff.org.
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