The Gori law firm in Edwardsville recently made a $10,000 charitable donation to The BackStoppers, Inc. in honor of Illinois State Trooper Nicholas Hopkins, nephew of the firm’s attorney, John J. Hopkins.
Trooper Hopkins was shot and killed in the line of duty while serving a search warrant at a home in East St. Louis early in the morning of Aug. 23.
The BackStoppers, Inc. is an organization dedicated to providing financial support and assistance to spouses and children of police officers, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, paramedics and EMTs who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Hopkins, 33, served with District 11 of the State Police for a decade and leaves behind wife Whitney and children Evelyn, Owen and Emma.
“Yet another hero protecting our community was taken far too soon,” said Randy Gori, founding partner of the Gori Law Firm. “We’re proud to honor Trooper Hopkins by supporting The BackStoppers in their mission to assist the families of fallen officers and other first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Upon the death of a first responder, BackStoppers immediately sends the family a check for $10,000. Within weeks, representatives from the organization meet with the fallen first responder’s spouse to determine the family’s financial obligations with the goal of making the family debt-free. The organization then provides the family with continuing support for education and other expenses.
For more information on The BackStoppers program and the work they do, visit them online at www.backstoppers.org or call 866.539.0521.