First grant of 2008!

We’ve made the first grant of 2008 to Chief David Howard, a volunteer firefighter from the small town of Zephyr, Texas. While responding to a grass fire near Zephyr, Chief Howard succumbed to second and third degree burns on his face, hands, and arms. Chief Howard was not wearing his protective gear at the time because he had given it to a fellow firefighter on the scene. Chief Howard is now recovering but must travel over 160 miles twice weekly for his care and therapy. As is the case in many small communities, there were not enough funds for the volunteer firefighters to have insurance coverage. This is one of the reasons why we do what we do… this grant money will help this firefighter and his family when otherwise they’d be struggling to make ends meet.

Happy New Year!

It’s the start of the new year, and we (finally) have a newly remodeled website at www.wpiff.org. This has been a project in the making for over a year, so we are quite happy that it is finalized and online. One way we are getting the word out is through an eblast to all of our contacts. We’ve found this to be a great way of sharing news without taking up too much of someone’s time. Our new site should make it easier for people to find information about the grant recipients and the 4th annual chili cook-off, which we scheduled for October 18, 2008.

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!

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.

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.”

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.