A season to reflect and give thanks...

As the WPIFF winds down after another year, we reflect on the generosity of our donors and supporters and the heroism of the U.S. Fire Administration service men and women of this country. Our 3rd Annual Chili Cook-Off provided us the funds to grant $29,000 to fire departments, department personnel, and their families in need. While we are happy to report these grants and a successful year for the WPIFF, we also realize that 2007 was a difficult year for many fire department personnel and their families.

Each year in this country, we lose an average of 100 firefighters. This year, we lost 109 firefighters in the line of duty, 57 of whom were career firefighters and an astounding 52 were volunteers.

The stories of these men and women vary. Some were just beginning their life journey, like Austin Cheek, a volunteer firefighter who was just 19 years old when he died of asphyxiation while trapped inside a burning building. Others were like 76 year old Anthony Catania, a volunteer fire commissioner and safety officer who devoted more than half of his life to protecting his New York community from fires.

While each and every one of these 109 individuals has a unique story, they share a common bond: they devoted their lives to protect their communities. They responded to the call – day or night. These men and women leave behind a legacy and countless family and friends. We ask that you remember them and their families during this holiday season.


If you would like to learn more about the WPI Firefighters’ Fund or make a donation, please visit www.wpiff.org. You can find a full list of the grants we have made to date along with information about our organization, our annual fundraising event, our board of directors, and much more. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Making grants

The WPIFF has granted a total of $29,000 to fire departments in Texas and Oklahoma in 2007.

Funds raised from the chili cook-off have already been distributed to special firefighters who we would like you to know about. Here’s how all of the generous donations have made a difference in the lives of two firefighters and their families:

Family of Bill Bunch – Miami, Oklahoma
Injured - Line of Duty
Grant $9,000
Bill Bunch of the Miami, OK Fire Department was injured on November 13, 2006 while responding to a semi-tractor trailer fire on an overpass. While working the fire, he fell from the overpass, suffering bilateral femur fractures; heel fractures; scapula, clavicle, and facial fractures; and severe brain injury. Bunch is currently in rehabilitation at the Tejas House, in Austin, TX. Some of his injuries are permanent and require him to use a wheelchair. His wife, Janet, is working to renovate their home to fit Bunch’s wheelchair as well as learn how to care for him.

Capt. Roger Crues, Elmo Volunteer Fire Department FD
Injured – Line of Duty
Grant $10,000
Capt. Roger Crues was injured while attempting to rescue a fellow firefighter who was trapped inside a burning home. Crues suffered injuries to his right arm and hand, and in the past week has undergone a successful, corrective surgery and is currently in recovery. Crues is self-employed and has no insurance. The fire department does not have injury coverage and unfortunately the homeowners insurance will not cover the accident, as volunteer firefighters fall into a contractor’s category. The WPIFF was able to assist Capt. Crues and his family by granting them $10,000 to help cover expenses of his $30,000 surgery.

During this time of year as we prepare for the holidays, we ask you to remember your local and national firefighters. THANK YOU to all who have supported the WPIFF. You make these grants possible!

If you would like to donate to the WPIFF, please visit www.wpiff.org or contact Robin Williams at robin.williams@williams-pyro.com or 817.870.8006.

Chili Cook-Off was a success, thank you!

Please accept my thanks and heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your involvement and support of this year's Stop, Drop, & Roll Chili Cook-Off. We were very successful and the event is growing each year - that is the sign of a tradition in the making.

The event hosted 2900 attendees; 33 CASI Chili Teams; 4 CASI Show Teams; 28 Novice Teams (only 21 submitted chili to the judges - the other 7 were just there to help us feed the crowd - thank you!); 15 vendor/display booths; 40+ chili judges; loads of auction goodies; 4 firefighter contest teams; and lots of new sponsors, donors, and supporters. Funds raised (including all elements of our annual campaign) were in excess of $80,000.00. This figure does not even include the value of in-kind donations from folks like Budweiser, Clear Channel, ESPN, 93.3 The Bone, Kerby Wilcox's Iron Pig BBQ, The Grapevine Fire Department, and so many others that gave of their services to help us meet our goals of supporting the fire service of this great nation.

Check out the "Click" section of the Star Telegram for photographs of the chili cook-off. You can also view more pictures taken by one of our beloved volunteers.

Thanks again, everyone!

Remembering September 11

Today is September 11, 2007, and it is hard to believe that it has been six years since the tragedy of 9/11. Many times throughout the year, our minds drift back to that day. For many of us, myself included, as the time passes, we go on about the business of life, and the tragedy six years ago starts to seem like it’s only a bad dream. We push back the emotions and memories, rush along through the day, or maybe we just don’t think about it.

But reading and watching the news today reminded me of the thousands of those who don’t go a day without thinking about 9/11. I wanted to take a moment to remember the family and friends of all of those lost on September 11, 2001.

"I think about him every single day," Bob Carlo said last week as the sixth anniversary of the terrorists' attack grew closer. "It never gets any easier. I get choked up talking about it. It's like it happened yesterday." Carlo lost his son Michael, a New York firefighter, on September 11th. Carlo said families' lives changed forever that sunny morning six years ago. "They have their memories like I have mine. My sons were best friends, not just brothers. They did everything together."

Bob Carlo is one of thousands who lost a loved one that day. And there is not a day that goes by that he does not think of his son. I know that we are told to focus on the positive in life and we know that time heals pain. But on the other hand, we sometimes do need to reflect on the past, pay homage, or simply cry. Part of that pain is what helps keep the memory of those fallen heroes alive. Just as if they were our own family, we should all take a moment of our day to appreciate the courage and bravery of all of those lost on that tragic September day. Let us not forget them.

Sadness, again

In the days just after September 11, 2001, our nonprofit Firefighters' Fund "adopted" an FDNY fire station - Engine 24 / Ladder 5 - in Greenwich Village. Members of our nonprofit were involved in fundraising and not much else for several weeks, and after collecting thousands of dollars, we went to New York to deliver grants to the 11 families of Engine 24 / Ladder 5 who lost their firefighters that terrible day. We spent time with them - crying, laughing, sharing meals and stories and hope with them. And when our time there was through, and we left New York to come back home, we knew that we left stronger than we'd been when we arrived. Six years later, not many of the original crew still work there, but this firehouse will always be a special place for us.

And now this, again - not two weeks ago, Engine 24 / Ladder 5 lost two more firefighters who died battling a fire at the former Deutsche Bank building - one of the buildings damaged in the original attacks of September 11. Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino became trapped in maze-like conditions on the 14th floor of the building, which is still undergoing demolition. They suffered severe smoke inhalation and were taken to NY Downtown Hospital in cardiac arrest, where they succumbed to their injuries.

Please keep the families of these firefighters - of all firefighters - in your thoughts. Remember what they do for us, what they give to us. It is everything.

Big things are happening...

We are getting closer to the chili cook-off, and things are moving right along. We still have so much to do, but I am trying to focus on one thing at a time.

I never realized how much work went into planning events like the cook-off—for example, logistics, promotion, creating logos, writing letters for donation and auction requests, ordering t-shirts and baseball caps, and much, much more. With all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to get caught up in the tasks of making lists, phone calls, and simply prioritizing things to get done. I suppose in doing all these little tasks, we sometimes lose sight of the true purpose of our work.

Yesterday, though, I received a phone call, and it reminded me of what good things will come when we think BIG. One of the employees here requested an auction donation item from Southwest Airlines, and it was such a nice surprise when they called to let us know they were donating pair of roundtrip tickets, valued at over $800! It just goes to show that sometimes you have to think big and expect great things to happen.

With the money we raise from the silent auction, we will be able to assist an injured firefighter, provide support for his or her family, or even provide desperately needed equipment for a volunteer fire department.

There is nothing like knowing that your work has the potential to help a family or provide safety for a fire department. I think that is what drives everyone involved in the Firefighters’ Fund and why we are working to have the best chili cook-off yet!

An unforgettable experience

I want to share an experience of one my board members who brought to our attention the plight of an injured firefighter and his family from Miami, Oklahoma. The Fund was able to give a grant to Lt. Billy Bunch’s family to help with the expenses they have incurred since Lt. Bunch was severely injured on November 13, 2006. Lt. Bunch, of Miami, OK FD, fell from the overpass where he was working the fire of a semi-tractor trailer, suffering bilateral femur fractures; heel fractures; scapula, clavicle, and facial fractures; and severe brain injury. The following is my board member’s (Helen Johnson) account of presenting the grant check to the family.

“I delivered the grant check to Janet Bunch this morning (Sunday, August 5), and what a moving experience. Lt. Bunch was brought to the church in his wheelchair from the rehab center. He is so severely injured...it was heartbreaking. He cannot hold his head up; he is a quadriplegic with severe brain damage, has limited response to any stimulation, and I’m told, not aware of his surroundings. However, when I sat beside him and touched his arm and talked to him, he seemed to be aware that I was there.

Janet Bunch is a marvelous woman. She has total faith that her husband will recover. I also got to meet their 13-year old daughter, Megan. Janet was overwhelmed that a group in Texas would help her family.

The Miami, OK FD is beginning to do the necessary renovations to their house to accommodate Lt. Bunch’s wheelchair so Janet can take him home in about six weeks. Janet has been living in Austin to be near Lt. Bunch at the rehab center since February, so I’m sure this grant money will help with those expenses.

I want to say a very special thank you to WPI Firefighters’ Fund and each board member for awarding this grant to the Bunch family. Lt. Bunch is truly an American Hero, willing to make such a sacrifice in his line of duty.”

The generosity of others

Who knew how much work went into planning a chili cook-off?! Before this summer, I had no idea, but I certainly do now. But as much work as it is, it’s still a lot of fun helping to plan our upcoming Chili Cook-off & Festival.

Lately I’ve been racking my brain for potential donors who can donate to the silent auction we’ll be holding as part of the festival. I’m really been amazed at the companies such as Target, Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, and Starbucks who all commit to giving back to the community. They all have departments created specifically to offer donations and grants and to fulfill the special requests of non-profit organizations.

It’s easy to get caught in the trap of thinking that people, and especially large corporations, will resist giving back to the community. But in asking for donations from local stores, restaurants, sports teams, and other businesses, I have realized that this is not really the case. Most are more than willing to contribute.

If you think about the work of a firefighter, they put their lives on the line every day for people they don’t even know. So when companies and individuals donate to the Firefighter’s Fund, they are contributing to those who regularly contribute to others. For me, that serves as a reminder that people out there are making a difference and giving positive contributions to their communities.

First Responder of the Month - Ryan Cooper

In the midst of sorrow, we often find reason to be thankful. For instance, just last week, what should have been a quick flight turned into tragedy. A small plane headed from Daytona Beach to central Florida crashed into two homes, killing five people. Both people aboard the plane died, along with a woman and two children in the homes. Still, many are thankful for the hero who was there that day—Ryan Cooper.

Ryan was the firefighter who ran into the burning homes—without an air pack—and pulled a 10-year old boy and his father to safety. Incredibly, Ryan was off-duty that day but happened to be standing in his driveway when the crash occurred right down the street. Amid the smoke inhalation and disorientation, he was able to rescue two residents who are forever grateful for his incredible heroism.

USA Today says that Ryan prefers not to be called a hero, saying he “did what any firefighter would do…everybody that goes to work, every 24 hours, at every fire station across the country, it's their job to do it.” Even so, we salute Ryan Cooper for his heroic efforts, and we recognize his amazing courage and selflessness.

A reminder to give back

For the past week, I have been mailing letters to solicit donations. I wonder what people’s reactions will be when they first read these letters. I imagine many of them will automatically think of the recent fire in Charleston that claimed the lives of nine firefighters, the nation’s deadliest single disaster for firefighters since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Isn’t it odd that just as we’re asking for donations to help firefighters, these nine heroes died?

We’ll never know why such tragedies happen. But we do know that the families and friends of those who were close to the nine firefighters will never be the same.

I hope that people will view the Fund as a way to help and to give back to those who have sacrificed for us. Perhaps our donation letter will reach people when they are thinking about our nation’s firefighters; maybe some will donate this time around when they have not in the past.

Although we cannot take back what happened that day, perhaps it will make us all appreciate our firefighters who risk their lives every time they walk into a burning building. Perhaps people will give a little more to our firefighters this year just to say, “We support you, we honor you, and we thank you for all that you have done.”

A salute to the Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner of Texas

Fire Fighters' Pension Commissioner Ms. Lisa Ivie Miller is a long time supporter of the fire service and has displayed her loyalty by choosing an occupation that is all about taking care of our fire service in the state of Texas. Her appointment will expire soon and I could not let the opportunity pass to congratulate her.

I am proud to have her on my Board of Directors of the WPI Firefighters’ Fund. I can always go to Lisa for advice, inspiration, and a good measure of common sense about the best way to handle the business of our non-profit.

On behalf of the firefighters, here’s to you, Lisa Ivie Miller, on a job well done! I look forward to many more years with you on my Board. You have been such an asset to the development, planning, and consistent progression of our organization.

Hi, I'm Kelli, a new team member...

I am new to the WPI Firefighters' Fund and very excited to be involved in its third annual Chili Cook-Off! Working for its corporate sponsor, I am lucky enough to have a job where I get the chance to help organize events that help others.

One thing I have already realized is that a lot of work goes into organizing these events! It is June and our chili cook-off is not until October, but we are already making flyers, sending invitations, and lining up vendors and advertisers.

This past Saturday I attended a chili cook-off in Dallas, and although it was a hot summer day, that did not stop the chili fanatics from coming out. Everyone seemed very excited about attending our upcoming cook-off, so I really do hope to see them there.

On a side note, although I always had a huge amount of respect for our nation’s firefighters, I am in awe of just how much they do for us. I was astounded to learn that many of them are actually volunteers. I recently read a quote that said, “Most people want to get away from trouble. When you’re a public servant, you’re going toward trouble.” We should all feel grateful to have these firefighters risking their lives and offering their time to help others.

I am proud to take part in the Fund and help organize this year’s Chili Cook-Off, and am looking forward to the event!

List your event!

Did you know that the web has tons of events listings? Well of course, you did, but I didn’t know about these listings until a couple of years ago.

Since I have my own event every October, I decided to mix it up with the people that manage these listings, and I am now on every kind of event listing you can imagine – some just for women, some just for cowboys, some for the state of Texas. I even entered my event on one that is all about international events – because, well, my event is an international event to someone – somewhere.

It's Chili Time!

OK, it’s finally time to get everybody I can think of involved in our annual fundraiser, the Stop, Drop, & Roll Chili Cook-Off!

I’m really excited about some of the events we have scheduled for the cook-off...we have beauty queens, we have clowns, we have musicians, we have chili teams forming, we have a bouncy house that looks like a fire truck, and we even have some big name participants. ESPN, Budweiser, & BNSF Railways are getting involved...have I impressed you yet?

Mark your calendar—October 13, 2007—and get your details at http://www.wpifirefightersfund.org/.

I love getting ready for the Stop, Drop, & Roll Chili Cook-Off—let the craziness begin!

Always thinking of others...

I received a request today from a fire chief of a small volunteer department in West Texas unlike any other that has come my way since first delving into the world of helping firefighters.

The fire chief had placed an application for a grant with my organization in February 2007. His VFD’s radio tower was knocked out in an ice storm in January, which meant a “lack of communication” for the firefighters – a completely unacceptable situation in the world of first responders. The department needed $6,000 to make repairs and get communications back on line. However, the request came in right after we disbursed what we had left from 2006 fundraising efforts, so we couldn't help them.

He called just to let me know that the State Department of Health was going to provide the funding to get the radio tower up and running again! He asked for me to ensure that his application was completely withdrawn because “there are so many VFDs that are in need.”

I love these guys/gals – they are always thinking of others.

Getting the word out

Advertising…not a skill set I’ve yet been able to master.

I’m contemplating the best way to reach the general public for the WPI Firefighters’ Fund Chili Cook-Off, our annual fundraiser. The big daily newspapers are too expensive for my budget, and the small local newspapers seem to be hit and miss—I tried them last year, but I don’t think they generated much response.

I am thinking about using a billboard this year, something that people will see almost every day for 4 weeks prior to the event. Now for the next step: location, location, location.

An unacceptable cost

According to an article on www.firechief.com, the National Institute of Standards and Technology recently studied the annual cost of addressing and preventing firefighter injuries in the US, and they estimated that the cost is between $2.7 and $7.8 billion. The National Fire Protection Association puts that estimate even higher—at about $16.7 billion per year—by including a variety of indirect costs, such as

• labor spent investigating firefighter injuries
• the cost of training firefighters
• physical fitness and wellness programs
• the amount fire departments pay in medical insurance for firefighters
• court settlements to injured firefighters

With either estimate, these are staggering numbers—but I can’t help wondering, what percentage of the $16.7 billion is from the costs associated with court settlements to injured firefighters? And why would injured firefighters even need to go to court in order to receive a settlement? Why are they in the position of fighting for their benefits? Hmm, looks like the attorneys win again…

A ringing endorsement

Amazing what an endorsement from the right person can do for your non-profit. I was fortunate to receive such an endorsement just last week from Kay Granger, a Congresswoman for the 12th District of Texas in the U.S Congress. Representative Granger wrote a letter on behalf of our humble little group, encouraging others to give. OK, that might not impress you, but I am telling you it really helps open doors—I have seen it happen. Corporations that I have repeatedly tried to approach for support (with no success) suddenly become very interested when I attach this endorsement. I am not much of a political player, but I will take this one every time.

Join the Whistle Stop for Safety Tour!

The National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Foundation (NFFMF) has begun a “Whistle Stop Tour” to promote firefighter safety. They plan to hold events in 19 major cities across the country, traveling on a tour bus with 55 people. According to the Everyone Goes Home website, the purpose of this tour is to “change the culture of accepting the loss of our firefighters as a normal occurrence” and to prevent deaths in the line of duty “so that ‘Everyone Goes Home’ at the end of the day.”

The tour, which began a week ago in San Francisco (see picture, above), is open to the public. Their next scheduled event is in Dallas on April 12, 2007, from 10 am to 1 pm at the Lowe’s on Chalk Road. The NFFMF is an excellent foundation, and this is sure to be an event that not only will be interesting and touching but also will help bring the US Fire Administration closer to its ultimate goal of “reducing firefighter deaths by 50% within the next ten years.” The tour ends next month in Boston, so I hope everyone has a chance to make it to one of these important events!

Volunteers help make the world go 'round

Volunteers are amazing! Did you know that 70% of all firefighters in our nation are volunteers? I have come to take this fact for granted as I have been working with firefighters for about 8 years now. Unfortunately the general public is not always aware of the sacrifices that these volunteers make.

Would you be willing to:

• be on call 24 hours a day
• risk your life for the safety and well being of others
• attend mandatory training at least once a month (this is after your hard day of work at your full-time job)
• work with the tools and equipment available, which are not usually “state-of-the-art”
• hold fundraisers to buy the equipment needed to ensure continued protection of your community because your municipality is unable to provide more funding
• sacrifice time with your family and friends

Not many of us can say yes to these terms, but almost one million volunteer firefighters say, “Yes, I will” everyday. Thank goodness for these men and women.

Supporting the cause--monument or equipment?

My hometown of Fort Worth will soon have a monument to honor firefighters and police officers that have been lost in the line of duty. This wonderful tribute will be located right nearby my office--quite a coincidence, since I am interested in all things firefighter.

However, while I support these types of projects, my support is in spirit only. When it comes to financial support, I would rather my money go toward buying equipment and supplies that the firefighters need. For instance, we recently had the privilege of providing a rural volunteer fire department with two self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units--the protection that allows firefighters to breathe and communicate with one another when entering a fire scene. This type of equipment, which small departments often cannot otherwise afford, can help save firefighters' lives during an emergency.

I appreciate the effort that the Fort Worth Police and Fire Fighters Memorial Committee is putting into this new monument, which will serve as a reminder of the price these brave folks sometimes pay to keep us all safe. And for those who wish to contribute, by all means do so. But as for me--I think I will continue to do my part by working to keep our heroes' names off the memorial.

Striving to serve

So many requests for funding all of a sudden! Is it the magic of the internet or are we finally becoming well-known by the population we strive to serve? A little of both I imagine.

I have received grant requests from six volunteer fire departments just since January. For our little non-profit this is a lot. The requests are for equipment, gear, and stuff they really need. Oh, I wish I could start writing checks right now. Instead I will be writing letters acknowledging receipt of the application and informing those applicants that we must raise some more money before considering their requests. We have some funds from our last fundraiser but must keep those available for the injured firefighters and the families that suffer the biggest loss. The volunteer fire departments are accustomed to having to wait for what they need (unfortunately) so they are always very understanding and still appreciative of what we do.

Lesson learned

I am about 7 months away from my non-profit’s annual fundraiser. Time to start planning—but just for me. Last year I made a big mistake in attempting to bring together my event committee at about this time. The meetings started too soon, and it became apparent to me that I had not done myself any favors by starting this early. My planning committee suffered from meeting fatigue and event burnout long before the event was here. We actually held meetings in which we accomplished nothing new and we all just chatted and caught up with each other. Don’t get me wrong—I like and deeply appreciate the folks who give their time to help coordinate this ever-growing event, but even I was sick of these meetings by about August. So this year, I will apply the lesson I learned in 2006...hopefully I will accomplish just as much with less pain inflicted upon my dear committee.

A few dollars a day does not a budget make...

Can you imagine running a business with 25 employees serving approximately 1000 customers, 24 hours a day, seven days a week on a budget of $6500.00 annually? Yeah, me neither. This is what most rural, volunteer fire departments do on a continual basis. And yes, I realize the actual folks doing the work are volunteers, but there are still expenses to be covered besides payroll. They have expenses such as gas, equipment, maintenance, overhead, and wow… it would be really great if you got a little insurance coverage. And I don’t mean the cozy, comfy kind of insurance with co-pays and drug benefits. I am referring to the kind of insurance that would cover you if you were severely injured while saving someone’s life and property. Appreciate your volunteer firefighters; most of us have no idea what they go through just to “stay in business.”

Another reminder

I subscribe to a service that emails me each time a firefighter in the US loses his or her life, and today, I received one of those notifications. Although it’s a convenience that makes my job easier, it’s also a bitter reminder that someone lost a husband, dad, best friend, sister, or mom.

I always read the information contained in these notifications, and I’m often struck by how old a firefighter may have been—anywhere from 17 to 80 years old. Some of them are volunteer firefighters, and some are commissioned.

These notices often serve as the first piece of documentation on a family that eventually comes to us for assistance, so I dutifully print out each notification and put it in a file. I have received 14 of these messages just since January; I wish I would never receive another.

Let's hear it for first responders!

Now, here’s the best idea I have heard in a long time. A non profit has come up with an excellent campaign to honor our first responders. You can check it out for yourself at www.firstresponsecoalition.org. These folks are asking us to decide whether our firefighters, police, and emergency services deserve a day of recognition. I say YES they do; if you agree, then why not sign the petition? That our nation would honor the likes of the stinky catfish while failing to recognize the first responders is a little disturbing. Watch the video, and I bet you will agree with me.

To grow, or not to grow?

In the ever-growing world of the non-profit sector, I often wonder if I am doing everything I can for my small non-profit. My organization is volunteer-based, which means no paid employees and no regular hours. I have a part-time job and a couple of kids, so I don't have a whole lot of extra time to devote to the cause. But the cause is very important to me, so I do what I can and end up postponing a lot of great ideas. I often have to convince myself that doing what I can, when I can, is much better than doing nothing at all.

I am blessed with a few active board members and a couple of enthusiastic volunteers / supporters who are extremely helpful when it comes to crunch time. I am also blessed with generous support from the public and corporate sectors… for this I am grateful.

As much as growing bigger and doing more is the goal of any non-profit, a part of me feels it is best for the organization to stay small, uncomplicated, and simple. After all, who wants to deal with employees, payroll taxes, and idiotic administrative duties that take away from the mission? Large non-profits can get a lot accomplished, but there's a fine line between whether that's where we need to be yet, if ever. Do we want to grow so much that all of those business requirements become necessary?

Welcome to my non-profit blog

As I'm reading various blogs about non-profits and news articles about the plight of firefighters, I realized that others may share my same enthusiasm toward making a difference. So here I am, with my own blog, to share what it's like to be the Development Coordinator for a small non-profit, the WPI Firefighters' Fund.

So if you're new to non-profits, or just interested in helping firefighters, tune in each week and I'll have something to share about my experiences, cool stuff that I've found about running and organizing a non-profit, and information regarding my cause--assisting fallen or injured firefighters and volunteer fire departments needing equipment.