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Dear Editor:

The Hill County 100 Club has received reports that some telephone solicitation contractors for the Texas State Troopers Association (TSTA) have been claiming that the 100 Clubs spend 95% of their money on marketing. In the case of the Hill Country 100 Club and others we are familiar with, they have it backwards. The vast majority of our funds are reserved for and used directly to provide financial support for emergency response personnel (law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical personal) in Burnet, Llano, Blanco and, most recently, Lampasas Counties.

When a tragedy takes the life of one of the emergency response personnel in our support area, funds are used to assist the surviving spouse and dependent children. The Hill Country 100 Club delivers a check to the family, typically within 48 hours, to provide them with funding for any immediate financial burdens. Any additional needs of the family are determined and funded as appropriate.

Our funding only comes from annual memberships, donations and fundraisers. We are an all-volunteer non-profit organization. Almost all of our newspaper advertising is donated. We do not use paid telephone solicitation or any other kind of regular advertising. We do not have any paid staff, office, paid board members or paid administrative staff. Members annually donate $100 or more to our tax deductible organization. Funds donated are utilized when a law enforcement officer, firefighter or emergency medical service provider is killed or seriously injured in the line of duty.

As a member, and founding director of the Hill Country 100 Club, I urge anyone who receives a call from any solicitor who misrepresents the 100 Clubs to contact the Hill Country 100 Club immediately at dewey.hollingsw orth@hillcountry100club.org.

Please help us set the record straight.

Dewey Hollingsworth, Founding Member and Director, Hill Country 100 Club