Burg Simpson Launches Denver PD Scholarship

Burg Simpson is renewing its support of Denver’s law enforcement community with the launch of the Burg Simpson Law Firm Denver Police Officers Foundation Scholarship competition. The winner will take home a $1,500 college scholarship to pay for tuition, fees, books, meals or housing.

The competition is open to high school seniors who have at least one parent on the Denver police force. Scholarship competitors must compose an original essay of 1,500 words less that details:

• The duties of police officers and their importance to our communities.
• The difficulties faced by police officers in serving and protecting our communities.
• The importance of police-community relations.

All entries must be submitted by July 1st and can be delivered electronically or by mail. An independent judging committee, composed of three retired Denver police officers, will select the winner, who will be notified on or around Oct 1, 2017.

“We’re thrilled to work with the Denver Police Officers Foundation to sponsor this competition,” Burg Simpson Shareholder and Colorado workers compensation attorney Nick Fogel said. “We at Burg Simpson and the board members of the Denver Police Officers Foundation believe it’s important to encourage our police officers’ children to pursue a college education. It’s a privilege for our law firm and the foundation to represent the interests of our Denver officers and their families.”

Nick, along with Senior Counsel Marshall Fogel, have collectively spent decades fighting for those injured on the job or in the line of duty. They are also both heavily involved in law enforcement support organizations such as the foundation. Nick also sits on the boards of the Jeremy Bitner Fallen Officer Fund and the Denver Firefighter Foundation.

The Denver Police Officers Foundation was established in 1999 to “provide emotional and financial support and assistance to active Denver police officers and immediate family members during health-related matters such as medical emergencies, long-term illness, death, and injury, along with other disastrous circumstances such as house fires and funeral expenses.”

The foundation has helped more than 600 officers and their families and is funded primarily by monthly city payroll deductions, donations, and fundraising efforts. Specifically, the foundation has been able to pay for emergency financial assistance and long-term assistance for families. It also helps fund several other programs, such as:

• “Heal As You Feel,” a program that sends cards, flowers, or gift baskets to any DPD employee. Additionally, this program offers emotional support to terminally ill officers or family members through informational meetings that cover medical issues, funeral arrangements, and family counseling.
• The Retired Officers’ Assistance Fund, which helps pay for medical emergencies and funerals for retirees.
• Jacques and Alexisa Bensard Medical Education Scholarship.
• The Thomas O’Byrne Health Fair
• Memorial fund to assist in the annual police memorial as well as to maintain the Denver Police Memorial.
• Burg Simpson educational assistance program, represented by Colorado work comp attorney Marshall, and built to help active DVD families in financial hardship situations.
• Spousal Support Group, which provides educational counseling services to married couples who struggle with the dangerous and stressful work environment.
• Fallen Heroes program, which raises money to support active Denver police officers representing the Denver Police Department at the National Police Memorial in Washington, DC.

For more information about contest guidelines, or to submit an entry, visit Denver Police Officers Foundation, where you can also make a tax-deductible donation. Or contact the Colorado workers’ comp lawyers at Burg Simpson at 303-792-5595.