Most of the original organizers of the annual Ball of the Badges have formed a new nonprofit organization to keep the local celebration of first responders going strong.
Behind the Badge Inc. will be a supporting mechanism for law enforcement, fire departments, ambulance services and other agencies that respond when tragedy strikes in the community. The organization officially formed in April, and the hope is that it can go beyond the ball when it comes to helping those who help local people.
Previously, organizers like Jody Johnson and Kayla Williams had worked with Safe Haven in Shawano to set up an event that would honor first responders. Williams said the original idea had been to hold a cookout, but then it shifted to holding a gala that allowed first responders a night of fun and celebration, as well as award outstanding people in their fields.
“The idea came about — why don’t we make it something bigger?” Williams said. “What if we did a formal event? Shawano County does not have a formal event. The closest formal event we had was when Dollars for Scholars did their gala.”
There was apprehension about doing the ball at first, as Shawano County tends to be more laid back and casual, Williams said. However, that first year exceeded expectations and momentum is still going strong today.
“The buzz about becoming a nonprofit started in year two,” when COVID-19 derailed plans for the ball and hundreds of other local events in 2020, Williams said. “We wanted to continue it for a handful of years to make sure we were solid and really had our footing.”
Because Safe Haven was taking the risk and paying for much of the infrastructure, it would receive any proceeds from the ball. Now, with the new nonprofit forming, anything raised from the ball goes toward first responder agencies and the needs they have to help protect the community.
Johnson noted the committee had received questions over the years about where the money raised during the ball was going.
“When Safe Haven received the funds, first responders benefited from it,” Johnson said. “Safe Haven is a great partnership with our community first responders.”
According to Williams, Safe Haven will still remain a partner with the Ball of the Badges. One of the reasons Behind the Badge was formed was because Safe Haven had to cut a community service position. That employee had done much of the planning and preparation for the ball, but it’s clear that the domestic violence shelter’s close relationship makes sense to keep it involved.
“It’s a few full-time jobs to put this on,” Williams said, noting that volunteers with Behind the Badge will handle what the Safe Haven employee handled previously. “If we didn’t step up, the event wouldn’t happen. Most of us have full-time jobs, but because we were successful in doing this last year, we thought now was the time.”
Behind the Badge is also partnering with VFW Post 2723, with Williams noting that many who serve in the military often move on to careers in law enforcement and other first responder agencies.
The 2026 ball will take place Nov. 13 at North Star Mohican Casino Resort, with a red carpet theme planned. An addition to this year’s ball is that award winners will receive $1,000 each to be donated to the organization of their choice.
“Imagine a room full of 400 people, and you hear these stories about what happened or why they’re getting the award or the little things that happened during the workday,” Williams said. “Now to actually hear it in a room full of your peers, it is a different energy.”
Behind the Badge is looking at opening the opportunity for additional nonprofits to benefit from event proceeds beginning in 2027 and working with the group to develop other ideas.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
