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Sharon Knuston-Felix, Executive Director of the 100 Club of Arizona

“I was raised in a Christian home. My dad was in the military when I was born and later went into the ministry. I was taught from a very early age to give back and to give to those who are less fortunate.” And that is exactly what Sharon Knuston-Felix is doing.

Knuston-Felix is the executive director of a local nonprofit, 100 Club of Arizona. Its mission is to provide financial assistance to families of seriously injured and fallen public safety officers and firefighters statewide and provide resources to enhance their safety and welfare. Her passion for this mission was ignited when her husband, Doug, was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 2, 1998. “After learning about the 100 Club and being a beneficiary of their support, I joined the organization. As a survivor of an officer killed in the line of duty, I knew firsthand what support was available and what support was lacking, especially to those who die off-duty or catastrophically injured in the line of duty.”

The support Knuston-Felix received from the 100 Club of Arizona after her husband died was an unparalleled experience that helped her piece her life back together. She vowed to return the love and support she received to other victims, even publishing a book to help them in healing. “I’ve learned that Arizona has some of the most generous people in the world. About myself, I’ve learned I can only be responsible for myself and the best way I can lead is by example,” she says. It is through her consoling words and big heart that Knuston-Felix has helped many, once like herself, put their feet firmly back on the ground and survive.
—E.L.