Non-Profit Spotlight: Black Hills Badges for Hope

Black Hills Badges for Hope is a positive community force that was born from a terrible community tragedy. The 2011 shooting in Rapid City that left two police officers dead and another wounded.

Co-founder Dustin Calhoun was close friends with one of the victims, Nick Armstrong. They met in high school and learned they shared a dream of serving as police officers. Together they entered the cadet program and graduated. In 2010, Calhoun’s family moved to the East Coast. Armstrong was the first person he told and he remembers his friend’s support and encouragement.

Armstrong visited Calhoun’s family and they toured the Washington DC National Law Enforcement Memorial together. They were in the middle of planning another guy’s trip (hiking and camping on Appalachian trail) when tragedy struck. On August 1^st the two shared a phone call to finalize plans. The following day Armstong was shot in the line of duty. Days later he passed away.

“I had this unbelievable and unreasonable guilt because I didn’t say ‘be safe’ when I hung up the phone that last time,” Calhoun stated.

After moving back to Rapid City, Calhoun and Jason LaHaie started the “Fallen Officer Memorial Golf Tournament.” LaHaie had lost his close friend, Officer Ryan McCandless in the same shooting. The event was a success, and it was clear the mission needed to continue. In 2018 Black Hills Badges for Hope was created and achieved its 501c3 status

The organization supports first responders and their families. Recently they stepped up to help Officer Jasmine Hoefs of Valentine, Nebraska. While responding to a medical call, she was crushed by a passing industrial vehicle. Badges for Hope ensured her kids were supported and could continue extracurriculars while their mother healed.

“I want first responders to be whole because if they are, they can enjoy a long, healthy career and the community is going to be a better place,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun and LaHaie recognized their organization could create positive connections with at-risk youth. It would be powerful if those kids could remember an officer who was kind to them or provided something that they needed. The man who shot and killed their friends had been in and out of juvenile detention and prison from a young age. Had he ever seen an officer and not also seen a threat?

Badges for Hope’s philosophy is “find a way to yes.” They have provided youth scholarships for activities, sponsorship for events like a school’s turkey bingo and various other fundraisers. During Covid, local schools removed water fountains and tasked children with bringing water bottles. When it became clear that not all kids had access, the organization provided branded bottles.

“We don’t know if we can measure the impact we have, did that baseball scholarship or instrumental rental sway the path those kids were on?” Calhoun said. “But I want to believe the opportunities we provide are teaching kids that this community cares about them and people care about them. I hope they remember that and pay if forward.”

In the winter, they host “Badges N Kids Christmas” where youth are paired with an officer and given a budget to purchase gifts for their family holiday. Calhoun says they frequently have kids not spend their total amount. Instead, they try and offer it to another kid who “needs it more.” One little girl asked the officer his favorite cereal and then insisted they buy a box and had it wrapped and presented to him.

“There is a false sense that people have their hand out to receive something. I have observed in real life that is NOT the case,” Calhoun said. “Hope can go a long way for people. Give them a little bit of hope “and they take it further.”

Badges for Hope is supported by donations. They can also use volunteers for various events. Find out more: https://www.bhbadgesforhope.org/