Excellence in Community Service
Chris Duke, LPC, Corporate Loss Prevention Manager, Heinen’s Grocery Store
“I’ve witnessed firsthand the emotional and financial turmoil that a sudden loss can cause,” said Duke, the committee chair of the Loss Prevention Benevolent Fund (LPBF). “After a colleague and good friend of mine passed away, I vividly recall the helpless feeling as his family was dealing with this tragic loss. While he did have life insurance, in the short term his family was facing no income, no health-care benefits, funeral costs, mortgage payments, and monthly bills—all adding great anxiety to the grief they were already experiencing. If our assistance can help a loss prevention professional or their family in their time of need and help relieve some of that anxiety, it’s well worth it.”
The Benevolent Fund was established by the Loss Prevention Foundation to provide financial assistance to surviving families who have lost a loved one while preforming the duties of the loss prevention/asset protection profession. LPBF also provides financial grants to eligible participants who experience a verifiable economic hardship as a result of qualifying circumstances. Support for the program has been outstanding with contributions coming from industry associations such as the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National Retail Federation, solution providers, and retailers that have adopted the LPBF as a charity of choice. Duke has proudly served with the LPBF since its inception.
“It’s not easy for any of us to balance all of the many priorities that we have in our lives,” said Duke. “But once you’re engaged in something that you’re truly passionate about—something that’s in your heart and you truly believe in—you find the time and keep going back for more. It’s a humbling and emotional experience to see the gratitude and relief that these donations can bring. It’s all the motivation I need. We are all blessed to be involved in such a giving and caring community, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
Nominations Are Encouraged
The LPM team is privileged to have a front-row seat to the very best in the loss prevention industry, providing a unique opportunity to present positive, productive ways to promote loss prevention, build successful and constructive partnerships, educate and inform the LP community, and support the thought leadership that drives us forward.
The LP Magazine “Magpie” Awards are a means to celebrate industry accomplishments on an ongoing basis, recognizing the loss prevention professionals, teams, solution providers, law enforcement partners, and others that demonstrate a stellar contribution to the profession. Chris Duke is among our July–August 2018 recipients.
We want this to be your program. Those of you working as LP practitioners witness these exceptional performances on a regular and ongoing basis, and we strongly encourage you to provide us with nominees for each of the award categories. We encourage creative nominations and want the program to cast a positive light on the many tremendous contributions of the loss prevention community. Nominations can be submitted via email to excellence [at] LPportal.com.
Find out who else has been recognized in the July–August 2018 issue – check out “LPM “Magpie” Awards: Applauding Excellence.”