The 100 Club concept originated in Detroit, Michigan in 1950 when William Packer, a Detroit auto dealer and friend of the Police Commissioner, wanted to help the family of a young police officer who was killed in the line of duty.

Packer invited 100 of his business associates to dinner at the Ritz Carlton and asked them to donate $100 each to a fund for the officer’s family. The response was overwhelming, and the One Hundred Club of Detroit was formed in 1952.

The 100 Club’s actions set the standard for what is now a nationally known organization that supports the families of emergency responders. Today, there are more than 100 active 100 Clubs across the country, and many have an annual membership of $100.

In 2018, retired Merrillville, Indiana Police Officer and former Clerk-Treasurer Gene Guernsey envisioned a way to support the families of law enforcement and firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The idea led to the formation of the 100 Club of Lake & Porter Counties, Inc. Gene gathered a group of like-minded volunteers, and together they worked diligently to bring this vision to life.

By June 2018, their efforts were recognized when the IRS granted the group 501(c)(3) non-profit status, officially establishing the 100 Club of Lake & Porter Counties, Inc.