Established 2025 · 501(c)(3) Public Charity
Honor. Support. Empower.
Tri State Heroes & Youth, Inc. thanks the police officers, firefighters and EMTs who protect our river communities, and brings them together with the kids they serve.
Needles CA · Laughlin NV · Bullhead City AZ · Fort Mohave AZ · Mohave Valley AZ
Dec
12
May
15
Our Mission
Standing behind the people who stand up for us.
Every year our first responders show up for the Tri-State. We make sure the Tri-State shows up for them, and for the next generation watching.
01
Honor first responders
Sheriff’s deputies, firefighters and EMS crews from three counties in three states get a public thank-you from the community they protect.
02
Support their families and careers
We fund financial assistance for career first responders: education, professional development and line-of-duty injury expenses.
03
Empower local youth
Kids ages 4 to 16 spend a day one-on-one with a first responder, building trust that lasts well past the holidays.
Signature Programs
Two days a year the whole river turns out.
Every 2nd Saturday of December
Shop with a First Responder
Youth registration opens in October
Each child is paired one-on-one with a vetted deputy, firefighter or EMT and heads to Walmart in Fort Mohave with a $100 gift card to shop for the holidays. Back at the gym there’s food, drinks and games for the whole family.
- Check-in: Desert Star Academy Gym
- Shopping: Walmart, Fort Mohave, AZ
- Who: Youth ages 4–16 living in the service area
- Gift: $100 Walmart gift card per child
- Register: October through mid-November, or until capacity (about 100 kids)
- Agencies: Clark County, San Bernardino County and Mohave County Sheriff’s Offices, plus local fire departments
Every 3rd Saturday of May
Annual First Responder Picnic
Open to the whole community
A free afternoon in the park to say thank you. Pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw and beans for everyone, bounce houses for the kids, cornhole, and a chili cook-off with a prize for the best pot. On-duty units are welcome to stop by between calls.
- Where: Mohave Community Park, 9200 Aquarius
- Food: Catered by Deco Foods, Needles
- Fun: Bounce houses, cornhole, chili cook-off
- Thank-you: Appreciation envelopes for attending and on-duty first responders, funded by community donations
COMING SOON
First Responder Assistance Grants
Financial assistance for career first responders serving Mohave County, Needles and Laughlin to cover education and professional development. Applications are reviewed by our Grant Review Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.
Where Your Dollars Go
A $100 gift card, a hero at your side.
Each year Shop with a First Responder sets out to raise up to $15,000. Two-thirds of it goes straight into kids’ hands at the register.
~100
children we aim to serve each December
$100
to spend per child, shopping one-on-one
5
communities across California, Nevada and Arizona
~35
first responders thanked with appreciation envelopes each May
The $15,000 Shop with a First Responder budget
Every dollar raised is tracked by the Treasurer and reconciled with the Board within two weeks of the event.
About $13,800Goes directly to the kids: Walmart gift cards they spend with their first responder
Up to $1,200Event costs: games and activities, venue, signage, transportation, food and drinks
Sponsor or Donate
Put your name behind our heroes.
Businesses and families can sponsor at any level. Every sponsor gets a public thank-you like the ones below.
PLAT
Platinum Sponsor
Covers 50 children’s shopping trips
$5,000
GOLD
Gold Sponsor
Covers 25 children’s shopping trips
$2,500
SILV
Silver Sponsor
Covers 10 children’s shopping trips
$1,000
BRNZ
Bronze Sponsor
Covers 5 children’s shopping trips
$500
★
Friend of Heroes
Covers 2 children’s shopping trips
$250
Any amount helps. In-kind sponsorships like craft tables, food and prizes are welcome too.
Donate online
Give securely by Zelle or Paypal. Every dollar goes to Tri-State kids and first responders.
Or give by check
Make checks payable to Tri State Heroes and Youth, Inc. and mail to:
8550 S Highway 95, Ste B
Mohave Valley, AZ 86440
Your gift is tax-deductible under IRC Section 170. Donations of $250 or more receive a written receipt for your records.
EIN 39-4813212. Donations support our programs as a whole. Gifts can’t be earmarked for a specific named individual.
Thank You
Our Shop with the First Responders sponsors.
Local businesses and neighbors who made the holidays brighter for Tri-State kids. Click a card to see the full thank-you.
$2,500 Gold
$1,000 Gold
$500 Bronze
$250 Sponsor
$100 Sponsor
Craft Table
Website
Get Involved
There’s a spot for everyone.
Families
Register your child
Youth ages 4–16 living in Needles, Laughlin, Bullhead City, Fort Mohave or Mohave Valley can sign up for Shop with a First Responder.
- Registration runs October to mid-November
- A signed guardian consent and waiver is required
- Once we reach capacity, new sign-ups join a waitlist
Community
Volunteer
We need hands for check-in, food service, game stations, setup and cleanup at both events.
- Volunteers working with kids are background-checked
- Sign-in and sign-out team for child safety
- Chili cook-off entries open each March
Agencies
Bring your crew
Deputies, firefighters and EMS personnel from every agency in the Tri-State are invited to shop with a child in December and eat with us in May.
- Agency recruiting begins each September
- Picnic invitations go out each March
- On-duty units welcome to stop by
Accountability
A registered 501(c)(3) public charity.
The IRS has determined that Tri State Heroes and Youth is exempt from federal income tax and that donations to us are tax-deductible.
- Governed by a volunteer Board of Directors under Arizona nonprofit law, with a written conflict-of-interest policy signed every year.
- Larger disbursements require two officer signatures. Gift cards are logged by serial number to each child.
- Our IRS determination letter and annual Form 990 are available to the public on written request.
| Status | 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt |
| EIN | 39-4813212 |
| Public charity status | 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) |
| Exemption effective | October 8, 2025 |
| Contributions deductible | Yes |
| Fiscal year | January 1 – December 31 |
| Headquarters | Mohave Valley, Arizona |