Membership Grows As 200 Club Of Morris County Celebrates 50 Years

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — It was in 1971 that the first 19 members of the 200 Club of Morris County came together to begin raising money and give a helping hand to first responders and survivor families of police, firefighters and EMS workers in Morris County.

An offshoot of Essex County’s 200 Club - the first to start in New Jersey in 1967, with a present club headcount of 17 statewide - within its first year, Morris County’s club membership expanded quickly to 40 new members.

Morris County’s 200 Club, based in Succasunna, is one of many throughout the nation, Puerto Rico and Central America that began after the first was founded in 1952 in Detroit after Michigan Police Officer Arthur Meyers was killed in a shooting. A businessman in that area named William Packer rallied friends to collect money for Meyers’ widow.

The group’s generous spirit led to a meeting among Packer, Detroit’s Police Commissioner and Meyers’ pregnant widow and they were able to pay off her mortgage, provide college monies for the Meyers’ baby and give her $7,000 for her checking account.

Just recently, the 200 Club of Morris County celebrated at a new member reception, with three more events like it planned in 2021, with 45 new members who live throughout Morris County.

At the last new member reception, attendees toured the 10,000-square-foot Jersey Girl Brewing brewery in Mount Olive, a business owned by 200 Club Board Member Chuck Aaron. They sampled some craft beers together and enjoyed food from Enzo’s Ristorante and Pizzeria, another Mount Olive business.

Now over 800 members strong and with more than $5 million handed out to help families with financial assistance and scholarships - the organization is making plans in 2022 to celebrate its half century of giving back to those whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice while helping others themselves in Morris County.

“Our members help us keep our promise to the first responders who protect and care for our families,” said Jim Rizzo, president of The 200 Club of Morris County. “We will continue to grow our community so we can give back to all the police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel that sacrifice themselves for us.”

In 2020, The 200 Club of Morris County gave more than $100,000 in scholarship monies to Morris County high school seniors who are volunteers or whose parents is an active or retired public safety officer.

To make a tax-deductible donation and join Morris County’s 200 Club, visit www.200ClubofMorrisCounty.com, email 200clubofmorris@comcast.net or call 973-630-7933.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at jennifer.miller@patch.com.