Vision & Mission Statements

The Vision 

Remembering the life and sacrifice of Officer Erik D. Hite, our programs serve the families of Law Enforcement, Emergency Services and Military Personnel on a close and personal level. The Erik Hite Foundation, a non-profit organization, provides a childcare center specific to 1st Responder’s variable work schedules and family outreach programs that offer a safe and positive environment. Following Godly principles and values, our programs strive to support the difficult work and challenges encountered by 1st Responders in life and death situations. As these men and women serve and protect us and our community, we serve and care for them and their families.

 

The Mission

The Erik Hite Foundation is a charitable, childcare, educational and family outreach service. We solicits and raise funds, re-distribute funds and/or goods to assist with the funding and undertaking of programs and activities designed to strengthen the services, organization, performance, competence, professionalism and morale of the Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, and Military employees of the City of Tucson, Pima County Government, the State of Arizona and the Federal Government.

The Erik Hite Foundation provides a variety of different programs to help Southern Arizona first responders and military families! With your contribution we can continue to provide these, and more!

Our Programs

Childcare Development Center
Childcare Development Center

The Erik Hite Foundation Child Care program provides 1st Responder families with safe and affordable childcare from ages 6 weeks to 5 years of age. The EHF Childcare Center is clean, confidential, and discreetly located. Early childhood curriculum and care exceeds state standards. Qualified, credentialed, and loving staff with low turnover. Extended, flexible hours reflecting the needs of 1st Responders erratic work schedules. Affordable fees with 30-35% reduction over standard childcare centers. The 1st and only childcare center in the U.S. designed to specifically serve 1st Responder families. Serving over 36+ different 1st Responder agencies in Southern Arizona.

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No Belt Required
No Belt Required

The No Belt Required program aims to increase officer and citizen safety through the use repetitive defensive tactics as a de-escalation platform. Our ultimate goal is to save officer and community member lives while enhancing effective community policing and growing public trust. Practice makes Progress. Practice makes Patience. Practice makes Peace. Our expert Martial Artist and Law Enforcement staff at NO BELT REQUIRED have created a foundational program to teach the most effective and applicable moves from the most effective self defense disciplines.

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Spouses Support Group
Spouses Support Group

The Erik Hite Foundation is pleased to facilitate these support groups to Southern Arizona. We currently provide 3 locations in Central, Northwest, and Southwest Tucson. Facilitators and childcare are provided. Our groups are growing and helping to serve law enforcement families with the support and encouragement that they deserve. Families of first responders carry an additional weight on their shoulders as part of being in these high stress & often times heavy burden career fields.

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Summer Camp Scholarship
Summer Camp Scholarship

The EHF Summer Scholarship program offers 1st Responder families the opportunity for their children to attend supervised programs, educational enrichment classes and sports camps during summer breaks. Available to kids ages 5 and up (5-18 years old), the EHF scholarships help offset the traditional expensive costs associated with summer vacation programs outside of school.

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Adult Workshops
Adult Workshops

The Erik Hite Foundation workshops are designed to support the dramatic needs and challenges faced by the 1st Responder employee demographic. This includes courses, training and counseling in: Preparing for sudden death Basic Financial Planning Financing 101: Budget, Documents, and Passwords Life Insurance Estate Planning Living Wills and Trusts Dealing with Death, Divorce, and Separation and more!

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Community Grandparents Giving Club
Community Grandparents Giving Club

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The Story of Officer Erik D. Hite

On June 2nd, 2008 Officer Erik Hite succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day by a suspect who had wounded a Pima County Sheriff’s Department deputy.

The suspect had fired a rifle into the homes of two neighbors and then fled as the first responding deputy arrived at the location. As the deputy pursued him, the suspect opened fire and wounded him.

Members of the Tucson Police Department spotted the vehicle a short time later and continued pursuing it even as the suspect continued to fire at them. The suspect then turned off the main road onto a residential street where he stopped his vehicle and setup an ambush.

As Officer Hite turned the corner onto the street, the suspect opened fire from a distance of approximately 80 yards, striking Officer Hite in the head. The suspect continued to flee and wounded another deputy before finally surrendering.

Officer Hite was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Tucson Police Department for 4 years. He is survived by his wife, adult son, daughter, and parents.