100 Club of Chicago to provide slain McHenry County Sheriff's deputy's family with benefits

The 100 Club of Chicago has adopted McHenry County into its mission to provide benefits to the family of fallen McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Keltner.

The nonprofit will give Keltner’s family $50,000 in first response aid and educational assistance for the deputy’s two children, according to a news release. The 100 Club provides financial benefits and resources to the families of first responders killed in the line of duty. All sworn federal, state, county and local first responders stationed in Cook, Lake and McHenry counties are included, according to the release.

“When we heard of the tragic death of Deputy Keltner, we knew how imperative it was to ensure that this family would be supported,” 100 Club of Chicago CEO Joe Ahern said in a statement. “I am grateful to our board of directors for their swift actions in acquiring McHenry County, and allowing us to embrace the Keltner family into our 100 Club family.”

McHenry County is the second county that the 100 Club has adopted since it included Lake County in 2014, according to the release.

Aside from offering its own scholarships, the organization works with colleges that offer full rides for family members of first responders killed in the line of duty, Ahern said.

Keltner was shot and killed Thursday while trying to serve a warrant to a known fugitive in Rockford. He was a McHenry County Sheriff's deputy and a member of the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. He left behind a wife and two young children.

“When I heard about the line-of-duty death ... we had an emergency conference call,” Ahern said. “It was unanimous that we wanted to provide for this family, but also extend out to McHenry County.”

The 100 Club relies entirely on donations. Anyone wishing to contribute can donate at www.100clubchicago.org.