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Fundraisers focus on Glasser family, 100 Club

Posted at 11:33 PM, May 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-29 07:25:54-04

More than one thousand people showed up to help raise money for the families of fallen first responders on Saturday night.

The event at WestWorld included bull riding, country music and mutton busting among other activities. 

Mike Glover, who started the fundraising event 3 years ago said the event had raised $20,000 for the non-profit 100 Club of Arizona since it began.

"We're estimating raising about $8,000-10,000 today," he said.

Several families of fallen officers and firefighters attended the event, including Shelly Marano.

"My husband was a highway patrol officer killed in 2009, 8 days before Christmas," she said.

Officer Christopher Marano was laying down spike strips to stop a suspect involved in a high-speed pursuit, when his wife said he was hit by a pursuing officer.

"It's the worst feeling in the world, knowing everything you knew stopped," said Marano.

She said the days following her husband's death were a big blur, but several women from the 100 Club showed up at her doorstep the next morning, introduced themselves, and gave her a big check.

She felt comfort knowing these women had gone through what she was experiencing, and could understand her shock and pain. The money helped as well, as she did not have to worry about how she would pay the mortgage, utility bills, and keep a roof over her head, and support her three children.

The 100 Club of Arizona also helped make the family's Christmas a little merrier in the tragic days following Christopher Marano's death.

"The 100 Club actually sent a fire truck full of toys with Santa to our kids' house.  It helped my kids get back into the Christmas spirit," said Shelly Marano.

Marano said she had just attended fallen Phoenix police officer David Glasser's funeral, and understood the pain his wife was feeling.

"It was my first time going to a funeral like this one since losing Chris. It brought back so many memories, so many feelings.  I felt so bad for her," said Marano.

If you'd like to help, just go to www.100Club.org.

Several other events in the Valley on Saturday also raised money for the Glasser family. A car show near 67th Avenue and Bell in Glendale showed off hundreds of cars from all makes, models and eras. More than 100 items had been put up for raffle to raise money for Glasser's family, including tickets, dinners and items such as guitars and watches valued at thousands of dollars.

"I feel for the family. I know everyone is doing things for them right now, but she's going to need help for a long time," said Nancy Perry, who organized the car show and raffle.

In central Phoenix, the fitness community came together to hold a car wash to raise money for Glasser's widow and children near State Route 51 and McDowell Road. Copperhead Crossfit said it raised nearly $2,000 from those looking for a clean car and others who just wanted to donate.

Organizers said several law enforcement officers belong to their gyms, spurring members to act.

"We feel the sorrow that his family is going through and we want to alleviate some of that if we can," said Nathan Zigler with Copperhead Crossfit. "People at this gym are amazing and wanted to donate their time to do what we can for the family."