Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Fall 2009 Update

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The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund

Founded by the family of FDNY Rescue 4 Firefighter Terry Farrell, who perished on September 11, 2001, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund has been helping the families of fallen firefighters and underfunded fire departments across the United States since 2002.  The charitable organization donates all of the funds it raises through various events, fundraisers,  and private and corporate donations to firefighter families who are in need of educational and medical assistance and to fire departments in desperate need of fire apparatus and equipment.

2009 Achievements

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund has had a successful year in 2009, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in monetary and equipment donations.  As they have since 2005, Jim Beam has partnered with the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund, releasing a specially-labeled bottle of bourbon, with a portion of proceeds going to the Fund.  This year the organizations also released a firefighter cookbook entitled "The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund California Firehouse Cookbook and What Inspires Our Local Heroes".   They also had displays at all of the major fire service trade shows in the United States.

Explaining their success at the shows, Michael Milner, a former colleague of Terry Farrell and a member of the Fund's Board of Directors, says, "The bourbon draws them a little bit because everyone comes from different avenues of thought, but they come here and they want to know.  They throw some money into the boot.  They'll buy a couple of t-shirts.  Some of them will want to join our fund and become a sponsor in their state."

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund is based in New York, and makes donations to fire departments and families across the United States; however, they are actively working on establishing dedicated chapters in each state to better serve the firefighting community.  The next state they hope to form a chapter in is North Carolina, according to Milner.

The Fund is working on securing a donation of surplus fire apparatus from an apparatus manufacturer, and has been successful in obtaining donations of equipment from various manufacturers and suppliers of equipment.  Contributions have included turnout gear, gloves, and gear bags, according to Milner.

Plans for 2010

The organization is also working on establishing an educational component to their scope in order to raise awareness of and funds for their charity.  Michael Milner explains, "We are also working on having an educational seminar once a year in late February, early March, starting in 2010.  So we are just trying to go in a little different direction,  Maybe sponsor some educators to come and represent the Terry Farrell Fund, and hopefully we'll get a greater response and open ourselves up to more people who would like to know what we do for firefighters."

Donation Information

For more information on the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund or to make a donation, visit www.terryfarrellfund.org.

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