Founded in 2007, the Families Behind the Badge Children's Foundation was created to better allocate and manage the funds raised from the legendary Tour de Shore Charity Bike Ride. Now known as The Ben to The Shore Bike Tour, the event is a 65-mile bicycle ride from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. The bike ride started as part of the Ugly Bartender Contest - a national MS Society initiative - with 20 cyclists the first year and has grown to 2,500 riders, raising $1.25 million in 2023. This ride has become a summer staple in the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey community.

 

Throughout the first 20 years of The Ben to The Shore Bike Tour, money raised went to a variety of worthy causes in the community. In 2007, after several Philadelphia Police Officers were killed in the line of duty, the organization made a change in the focus of its funding by putting a greater emphasis on supporting families of our fallen officers. Today, the FBBCF focuses on supporting the families of fallen and critically injured first responders and putting on programs that cultivate positive relationships and interactions between police officers and the children in the communities they serve.

 

In addition to The Ben to The Shore Bike Tour, the FBBCF hosts other fundraising events throughout the year. The Andy Chan Holiday Block Party takes place every December in Old City Philadelphia.  The event, which is normally held on 2nd Street between Market and Chestnut Streets, features food trucks, drink specials from participating bars and restaurants, raffles, auctions, even a parade with law enforcement, survivors, Mummers, and celebrity guests and impersonators.  Proceeds benefit the family of Philadelphia Highway Patrol Officer Andy Chan, who suffered traumatic brain injuries after a horrific motorcycle accident in 2016.  Officer Chan survived but requires around-the-clock care from his wife Teng, who works full time and supports two young children.  The Chan Family has graciously shared the proceeds with other families who have suffered loss.  The Family Fun Ruck is a new fundraising event featuring a 1 mile or 5K ruck along the scenic Schuylkill River Trail in Conshohocken during Veterans Day weekend.

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Since 2015, the FBBCF has spearheaded an original citywide initiative called the “Police Youth Alliance.” Aimed at cultivating positive relationships and interactions between police officers and the children in the communities they serve, PYA puts uniformed officers in local schools to engage in student-friendly activities such as chess, step, reading, drumline, and carpentry. 

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To maximize the support given to our first responders, the FBBCF provides an immediate grant directly to the families of first responders severely injured or killed in the line of duty. The FBBCF then works closely with other organizations that exist to continuously support these families such as Philadelphia Police Survivors Fund, South Jersey FOP Lodge 56, Montgomery County Hero Fund and Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund.

 

The FBBCF is proud to give back to the Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey community and support the children of our fallen heroes.  To date, the FBBCF has raised over $12 million for the children in our community. Every year, over 80% of all proceeds go directly to the families of fallen first responders and the Police Youth Alliance program.