PROJECT 109: THE MISSION

     The mission of Project 109 is to raise awareness & eliminate the stigma of PTSD, mental health struggles, and asking for help, within the first responder community by promoting and providing resources for the mind, body, and spirit of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, public safety dispatchers, correctional officers, animal control officers, and their families, through therapeutic, holistic, and educational means, while supporting faith, hope, resiliency, and healing in an environment of trust and like-minded peers.

THE VISION:

     Our vision is to change the perception and shatter the stigma of mental health throughout the first responder community and beyond; paving the way for a new and normal life for our public safety comrades, to include peace, balance, and optimal health, in both mind & body, as well as spirit.

THE INSPIRATION BEHIND 109:

     The backbone and inspiration behind Project 109 is the story of Lieutenant Michael K. Healey, Badge #109, who gave his life to his 26-year career as a local police officer. Mike's story is one that has become all too common in this field of work, and we need to do better. We have to do better.

     Mike was a leader, an officer, a mentor, an avid outdoorsman, a husband, father, brother, family man; a martial-artist, a history buff, and he was devoted to the same mission most of us are: To Protect & To Serve. He was kindhearted and quiet, but professional, genuine, and squared-away; an officer worthy of his rank. Mike represented the common person in this field, immune from nothing, vulnerable as a human, and still the all-powerful sheepdog. 

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     Our underlying collective goal will always be to honor Mike Healey, and to never allow him, his sacrifice, or his fight to ever be forgotten, or taken for granted. He is the whole reason we took the leap to create Project 109, and he will always be its backbone. 

     Project 109 has, at its core, an infinite mindset theology, much like Mike Healey did - that every day our goal is simply to be better than the day before. Sometimes that's a process, and sometimes it comes easy. Either way, it's a part of being mission-ready. We cannot continue with our mission as the Sheepdog if we have no fight left. This is a journey, not a race - and there is no finish line to wellness. Its an always-evolving presence within ourselves that makes us press on, and gives us the strength to be the most badass and healthy Sheepdogs we can be. 

"Be your best person to everyone, in every way, every day."

OUR NUMBER 1 PRIORITY: CONFIDENTIALITY

First and foremost, there are two basic rules we have with Project 109:

1. Leave your rank at the door. We are all humans here, and rank does not change the affects of stress on the mind. Allow yourself to be a human!
2. What happens here, stays here. This is a safe place, a neutral place, and a place of trust and healing. What is said and heard here is not for the locker room later.
   
   No worries here: Confidentiality is first and foremost when it comes to our programming and participation. It is taken seriously, and not optional. This is to provide the highest quality support to our fellow first responders, and to ensure an environment of safety, security, comfort, and most of all, healing.

OUR BEGINNINGS:

     Project 109 began as a simple idea in the wake of Lieutenant Healey's loss, on the drive home from his memorial. We never dreamed we would be bringing to life such an incredible organization of people with one mission: an extreme drive to help, to provide the resources, and to eliminate the stigma around first responders seeking help. This experience has been truly humbling, and we are elated to share with you the resources we've worked hard to build, brought to you by our own personal experiences, and input from hundreds of fellow responders.

Get to know the Founders of Project 109

Maggie Franek

From the depths of commercial city EMS, 911 Dispatching, and 5 years as a military medic, Maggie brings a wealth of knowledge from personal experience as a first responder herself. She also has another quirky perspective as a police wife, offering unique insight between the two worlds, and how they directly affect one another. She openly shares her personal stories of PTSD and the comeback from those dark corners of the mind through various practices...and of course, her goofy Service Dog, Michael. 

Age:   33

Experience: 18 Years, EMS, 911 Dispatch

Project 109 Role:   Executive Director, Director
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Favorite Part of Project 109:   Meeting many new faces in the field, sharing hope, help, and healing while on a path to changing our views of wellness, and eliminating the stigma around the idea of speaking up and seeking betterment. 

George Franek

With almost 20-years as an active, full-time police officer, George's career has been a long and storied one, already. Having worked the majority of his career both with & for Mike Healey, Project 109 has become a passion of his, with a drive to prevent other first responders from finding themselves feeling like there's nothing left and nowhere to turn. George has had his own experiences with the dark mind, and has overcome them little by little through a variety of resources, many of which we now share with you!

Age:   42

Experience: 18 years, Police Officer

Project 109 Role:   Public Relations Director, Outreach Coordinator
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Favorite Part of Project 109:  For all of public safety to come together and help each other; brothers and sisters having a place that can bring healing, hope, and to give tools to help themselves and their families.