First Responders Children’s Foundation Honors National First Responders Day and Celebrates U.S. Heroes from Across the Country
28 Octubre 2024 - 1:34PM
The First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF, a national
501(c)3 organization), dedicated to serving the children of U.S.
first responders including firefighters, police officers,
paramedics, EMTs, corrections officers, and 911 dispatchers,
honored National First Responder’s Day (October 28) and hosted its
annual "Roll Call of Heroes" ceremony on Monday, October 28, 2024,
in the heart of New York City's Times Square.
“The heroes we
recognize today represent just a small portion of the over 4
million first responders who rise to the occasion every day. We
invite everyone nationwide to take a moment this week, particularly
today on October 28, to honor those who work relentlessly to
protect our communities. In times of crisis, these selfless
individuals bravely face the unknown to ensure our safety. We also
want to acknowledge the profound sacrifices made not only by these
first responders but also by their families,” remarked Jillian
Crane, President and CEO of the First Responders Children’s
Foundation.
In 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives
officially designated October 28 as National First Responders Day
to pay tribute to the courageous and dedicated heroes who serve our
country. The formal ceremony, presented by corporate partner
SERVPRO, awarded real-life heroes from across the U.S. representing
each first responder discipline for their brave service. The First
Responders Children’s Foundation “Roll Call of Heroes” honorees
stand for their entire profession and were recognized for
outstanding service in law enforcement, fire, EMS, dispatcher
communications, along with special awards recognizing local NYC
heroes, volunteer firefighters, junior first responders,
corrections officers, and first responders at the federal/state
level. The ceremony also included the presentation of thirty two
gubernatorial proclamations declaring October 28, 2024 First
Responders Day.
“At SERVPRO, we are
constantly inspired by the heroes who emerge in the face of
disaster. As we gathered to honor these remarkable individuals
during the ceremony, we were reminded that resilience is not just a
word; it's a collective spirit that unites us all. Their stories of
courage and compassion remind us why we do what we do—restoring
hope and healing in communities affected by crisis. Together, we
not only restore properties, but also rebuild lives, proving that
with every challenge, we have the opportunity to rise above and
make a lasting impact,” said Brett Ponton, CEO of SERVPRO.
2024 Hero Medals were awarded to first
responders from around the country, including:
- Law Enforcement
Hero Award: Officer Raymond Chandler and Officer David
Spens, Southfield Police Department
- Firefighter
Hero Award: Captain Charles Abney, Dallas Fire
Department
- 911 Dispatcher
Hero Award: Fire Communications Officer Amanda Garr,
Chicago Fire Department
- EMS/Paramedic
Hero Award: Paramedic Sandra Sand, Kirk’s EMS, Lawton
Oklahoma
- Volunteer
Firefighter Hero Award: Firefighter Katie Remely, Lancaster
Township Fire Department
- Federal/State
Hero Award: Special Agent Elvin Hernandez, U.S. Department
of Homeland Security
- Junior First
Responder Hero Award: Ben Courville, Junior Firefighter,
Dighton Fire Department
- NYC NYPD
Community Hero Award: Chief Theresa Tobin, New York Police
Department
- NYC FDNY
Community Hero Award: Firefighter Jose Cristales, New York
City Fire Department
- NYC DOC Community Hero Award:
Officer Santos Barbosa Jr., New York City Department of
Corrections
Distinguished leaders
from the first responder community in attendance included Al Kahn,
Founder and Chairman of FRCF; Jillian Crane, President & CEO of
FRCF; Brett Ponton, CEO of SERVPRO; Robert Rajkowski, CMO of
SERVPRO; NYC Deputy Mayor of Public Safety Chauncey Parker; PAPD
Chief Ronald Shindel; NYC DOC Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie;
FDNY First Deputy Commissioner Mark Guerra; NYPD First Deputy
Commissioner Tania Kinsella, NY State Police Staff Inspector Robert
Appleton; FDNY Chaplain Reverend Pamela Holmes; Tom Harris,
President, Times Square Alliance;
Please click here for
photos from the event and a replay of the event.
ABOUT FIRST RESPONDERS
CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION (FRCF)First Responders Children’s Foundation
is a national foundation that provides programs and resources
addressing the specific needs of children of first responders. The
Foundation focuses on critical areas, including scholarships,
financial assistance grants, bereavement assistance, mental health
counseling for children, disaster relief, and community engagement
programs to foster positive relationships between first responder
agencies and the communities they serve. FRCF was founded over 22
years ago in response to 9/11 when 800 children lost a first
responder parent. Additional information about FRCF can be found at
www.1stRCF.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @1strcf.
About SERVPRO®For more
than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water
cleanup and restoration services, construction, mold mitigation,
biohazard, and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional
services network of more than 2,200 individually owned and operated
franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to
property damage emergencies large and small – from
million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When
disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners, and major insurance
companies alike rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even
happened.”
Press
Contact:bluePRint CommunicationsNatalie Maniscalco
natalie@blueprintmediausa.com845.659.6506
FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDREN’S
FOUNDATION38 EAST 32ND
STREET · SUITE 602 · NEW YORK, NEW YORK · 10016 · (646)
822·4236 WWW.1stRCF.ORGFirst
Responders Children’s Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Our
EIN / tax ID number is 05-0536854.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26e646ef-439f-42ad-ba9e-d69f71025f33