Fundraiser for MPD officer Jamal Mitchell rally's community

The Front Line Foundation (TFLF) announced today that it has given a total of $55,000 in death benefits to the family Minneapolis Police Officer Jamal Mitchell, age 36, who was killed while on duty on May 30. This unprecedented show of support, the largest death benefit to-date, was made possible with a partnership with Purpose Restaurants whose fundraiser on Saturday, June 1, at the company’s Apostle Supper Club in St. Paul, raised more than $32,000 for the family of Officer Mitchell.

Officer Mitchell leaves behind a fiancé and three children. During his short career as a Minneapolis Police Officer, Mitchell gained a reputation for his heroism and his compassion when serving the public. Officer Mitchell was more than just a police officer; he was a community volunteer and athletic coach.

Just hours after the tragedy in Minneapolis, plans were put in place to create an event where 100 percent of all sales went to help TFLF support the family of Officer Mitchell. More than 3,000 people visited the Apostle Supper Club to show their support for Mitchell and all first responders.

“The speed at which this incredible event came together is amazing and a testament to the commitment all parties have for supporting our first responders,” said Suzane Holt, CEO and President of TFLF. “The public’s response to this was incredible. We could not have done it without their unbelievable support and the support of Chef Brian.”

Brian Ingram, Chef and Executive Officer of Purpose Restaurants said he didn’t hesitate to act when he heard of Officer Mitchell’s death.

“Our purpose as a company is to be a positive influence in our community,” said Ingram. “First responders are at the heart of what makes our community strong. We owe it to them to show our support and do all we can to bring attention to the work they do and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis to protect us.”

Ingram continued that partnering with TFLF was an easy choice.

“The Front Line Foundation is doing great things, and we are pleased to work with them on this,” he said. “Nobody wants to have events like this, because it means tragedy has struck, but we are encouraged to know this organization is willing and able to help show significant support immediately.”

Since its inception in late 2018, The Front Line Foundation has supported Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, EMTs and members of the National Guard across Minnesota, to grant financial support to families of first responders who have died in the line of duty. The Foundation’s mission is to bridge the gap between the death and benefits being paid, which can help families with ongoing expenses. The Foundation also provides support in the purchase of tactical equipment for first responders which is not included in department budgets. To date The Frontline Foundation has paid out $575,000 in death benefits and equipment funding.

About Purpose Restaurants:

Purpose Restaurants was founded in 2019 with the opening of Hope Breakfast Bar by Chef Brian Ingram. In the past four years the business has expanded to include additional versions of Hope Breakfast Bar along with The Gnome Craft Pub and the Apostle Supper Club. With more than 30 years in the restaurant industry, Ingram has extensive experience in all aspects of the hospitality industry. Along with his wife, Sarah, he created a concept that emphasizes charitable contributions and cultivates a culture that prioritizes the well-being of workers. It would be a fast-growing family of restaurants driven by its promise and purpose to serve the community. Purpose Driven Restaurants was formed as an act of good faith by the Ingram family. It has weathered a pandemic; fed health care workers, protesters and the unemployed; served as a free community kitchen and food bank; established a non-profit (Give Hope) to benefit restaurant workers in the Twin Cities metro area. Since 2019, Give Hope has donated more than 300,000 free meals, 2 million pounds of food and gifted $225,000 in relief grants to local families in need.

About The Front Line Foundation:

The Front Line Foundation began as an attempt to help and support our Fallen Heroes, including Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, EMTs, and the Minnesota National Guard. The Frontline Foundation provides support to those who died while in the line of duty, by giving benefit payments to dependents of fallen first responders. Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, and EMT First Responders face armed and dangerous criminals, impaired individuals wielding weapons, even emotionally charged, and threatening domestic disputes. They are The Front Line Defenders of our neighborhoods, towns, and cities who face and diffuse the high-risk, frequently appalling situations we know or hear about, with disbelief, on the news. In addition to providing endowments and support for the families of fallen heroes, The Front Line Foundation will underwrite scholarships and training registration costs for Front Line personnel as well as support preparedness training for safety officers in hospitals, schools, and places of worship. Further, we assist with the purchase of needed safety and tactical equipment not currently within the budget of the local unit of government. For more information, please visit www.thefrontlinemn.org

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