THIS IS OUR STORY.
Taya Kyle & Kimberly Colley
It has been said that great things are often birthed out of unexpected events. That statement couldn’t have been truer regarding the origins of The Blue Bow Foundation, Inc. My husband, a police officer, had asked me to see the movie “American Sniper” with him, and I finally relented, as “chick-flicks” are more my style. There we sat, taking in the adrenaline, the drama, the touching story of a woman’s love and concern for her husband. That’s when it hit me—I am not alone. Someone else is feeling or has felt emotions similar to mine. I watched intently as the relationship struggles the Kyles faced mirrored those of my own marriage; and I quickly realized how important the health and well-being of our public servants are—not just for them but for their families.
I vividly remember leaving the movie theater motivated to do something to help, but I had no idea where to start. Around that time the law enforcement community began experiencing an onslaught of negative publicity and public sentiment. I wanted to do something to show our local law enforcement officers that they are still supported. Since I’m a crafty person, I thought I’d make and sell blue bows to be hung on trees throughout the neighborhood (similar to the “tie a yellow ribbon ‘round the ‘ole oak tree”). The bows would be affordable to encourage support for our police.
Once I discovered that the agency that patrols my neighborhood has a Benevolence Fund, the decision was easy. I would donate half of the money from my bow sales to the fund, with the other half covering my expenses. The idea caught on like wildfire, and I had a stream of orders flowing in daily. During this time, I also personally hand-made, delivered and installed each and every bow. Then came August 28, 2015, the night Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth was killed.
I had already been running what I called my “Blue Bow Campaign” for several months at that point and had been able to donate over $1,500 to the Benevolence Fund. Due to this terrible tragedy, however, I decided to donate the profits for the next month directly to the Goforth family in lieu of the Benevolence Fund. The response was amazing… orders came rushing in within minutes of posting my intent online, and total sales for the month reached almost $6,000. It was an amazing show of support from the community! I was approached by people I didn’t even know offering to help put together a team of volunteers so that I could keep up with the demand of orders that I was receiving. I was truly touched.
That is when the “Blue Bow Campaign” began to transform into a bigger idea. Trusted friends, business leaders, and law enforcement personnel all encouraged me to continue my efforts to support police officers and their families by forming a nonprofit entity. This was beyond my wildest dreams, and I couldn’t believe how quickly it was all happening. But after careful thought, prayer and discussion with my husband, I hearkened back to the movie theater and the emotions that “American Sniper” stirred in me. I then decided to focus my efforts on providing proactive, on-going support to law enforcement officers and their families and reached out to my trusted friends and contacts for assistance.
That is why The Blue Bow Foundation, Inc., was formed, and that is why we provide the services we do. I always got nervous when my husband headed out to his patrol vehicle; but I took comfort knowing that I was doing what I could to support him, his fellow officers, and their families. I'd like to share that comfort with other police spouses and families, and with an amazing Board of Directors and a community that has already shown that it shares our vision, I know The Blue Bow Foundation, Inc., will do just that by continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of police families everywhere. Thank you for your support!
~ Kimberly G. Colley, Chief Executive Officer
I vividly remember leaving the movie theater motivated to do something to help, but I had no idea where to start. Around that time the law enforcement community began experiencing an onslaught of negative publicity and public sentiment. I wanted to do something to show our local law enforcement officers that they are still supported. Since I’m a crafty person, I thought I’d make and sell blue bows to be hung on trees throughout the neighborhood (similar to the “tie a yellow ribbon ‘round the ‘ole oak tree”). The bows would be affordable to encourage support for our police.
Once I discovered that the agency that patrols my neighborhood has a Benevolence Fund, the decision was easy. I would donate half of the money from my bow sales to the fund, with the other half covering my expenses. The idea caught on like wildfire, and I had a stream of orders flowing in daily. During this time, I also personally hand-made, delivered and installed each and every bow. Then came August 28, 2015, the night Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Goforth was killed.
I had already been running what I called my “Blue Bow Campaign” for several months at that point and had been able to donate over $1,500 to the Benevolence Fund. Due to this terrible tragedy, however, I decided to donate the profits for the next month directly to the Goforth family in lieu of the Benevolence Fund. The response was amazing… orders came rushing in within minutes of posting my intent online, and total sales for the month reached almost $6,000. It was an amazing show of support from the community! I was approached by people I didn’t even know offering to help put together a team of volunteers so that I could keep up with the demand of orders that I was receiving. I was truly touched.
That is when the “Blue Bow Campaign” began to transform into a bigger idea. Trusted friends, business leaders, and law enforcement personnel all encouraged me to continue my efforts to support police officers and their families by forming a nonprofit entity. This was beyond my wildest dreams, and I couldn’t believe how quickly it was all happening. But after careful thought, prayer and discussion with my husband, I hearkened back to the movie theater and the emotions that “American Sniper” stirred in me. I then decided to focus my efforts on providing proactive, on-going support to law enforcement officers and their families and reached out to my trusted friends and contacts for assistance.
That is why The Blue Bow Foundation, Inc., was formed, and that is why we provide the services we do. I always got nervous when my husband headed out to his patrol vehicle; but I took comfort knowing that I was doing what I could to support him, his fellow officers, and their families. I'd like to share that comfort with other police spouses and families, and with an amazing Board of Directors and a community that has already shown that it shares our vision, I know The Blue Bow Foundation, Inc., will do just that by continuing to make a positive difference in the lives of police families everywhere. Thank you for your support!
~ Kimberly G. Colley, Chief Executive Officer