The Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2005 as a result of a serious injury to City of Coeur d’Alene police officer Mike Kralicek while engaging an armed suspect. Due to the officer’s subsequent surgical and rehabilitation requirements, it became evident that the officer and his family had difficulty obtaining additional services from Idaho worker’s compensation board.

Several retired police officers prepared and filed for a non-profit Memorial Foundation.  In 2006, the Foundation received their 501(c)(3) status, making them a privately funded non-profit, tax-exempt public charity.

The Foundation was established to provide financial grants to Kootenai County first responders (including volunteer firefighters) and their families who experience unforeseen catastrophic circumstances including death, illness, and injury.

In the spring of 2010, the Foundation implemented a financial scholarship program for high school dependents of first responders who are college bound. Each year, the Foundation donates $10,000 through this merits scholarship program.

In 2023, the Foundation began a rebranding process, and in 2024 the Foundation rebranded themselves as the Red & Blue Foundation.