Jim Beam and Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Assist Families of Firefighters in Need

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The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing firefighters and their families with financial assistance for their educational, medical and equipment needs. This charity was formed in honor of Terry Farrell, a decorated firefighter with FDNY Rescue 4 and the Fire Chief of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department who perished on September 11, 2001, while fighting fires and rescuing victims at the World Trade Center. Originally aimed at providing a scholarship fund for the children of past and present FDNY firefighters, the organization grew rapidly and was able to offer firefighters, their families and needy fire departments with the help they needed in many areas.

Three months after the tragedies of September 11th, Brian Farrell, Terry's brother, and other family members and friends decided they wanted to honor Terry by supporting the families of other firefighters. Brian Farrell says of the foundation's formation, "We became more familiar with firefighters in the city of New York, their pay scales, their benefits…and what their needs were. And as we got a little away from the grief we tried to make something positive out of it. So we created this minor scholarship fund and that's what it was. It was a $500 a year scholarship, which we were going to give to the firefighters of Long Island and New York City."

To fund this scholarship Farrell and his group began selling t-shirts and other Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund items. Word about their mission spread quickly, and soon the t-shirts were selling out and enough donations were collected that they were able to expand their mission beyond the scholarship, enabling them to purchase used fire apparatus for placement in needy fire departments.

Soon after, Larry Romo, the Vice President of the James Beam Distilling Company and a close friend of Brian Farrell, recognized the importance of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund and went to work to convince Jim Beam to support the charity. One year later, Romo's efforts paid off, as Jim Beam agreed to donate $1.00 to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund for each case of bourbon whisky that the company sold in the Long Island area. Working relentlessly for the Farrell's and their mission, Romo tried to convince Jim Beam to produce a special label for the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund. Prior to Romo's request, Jim Beam had not changed their label in 150 years, and they initially told him no but he did not give up. Again Romo's persistence paid off, and in 2006, Jim Beam agreed to label the bottles involved in the scholarship drive with commemorative Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund branding. This bottle was so popular in the New York City area that it sold out within 6 weeks.

Since Jim Beam became involved in the Terry Fund, they have raised almost $100,000 with the sale of their specially labeled bottles, and they have increased their donation commitment to $2.00 per case with a goal of raising another $100,000 in 2009 alone. They have added some star-power to their fundraising efforts with the endorsement of Robby Gordon, the NASCAR Driver and car owner of the Number 7 Jim Beam team. Gordon himself has several friends and family members who are part of the fire service community and is excited to be a part of this program.

Jim Beam supports many charities that give back to the community, and they are proud of their involvement with the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund. Sheri Haupt with Beam Global Spirits and Wine explains their commitment saying, "First and foremost, that's our priority. Let's make some money for these firefighters. Let's help them out. If we can do a little extra by putting a special label on our bottles and really generating some incremental sales and pushing some more product and building some more dollars for these guys, then whatever it takes, that's what we want to do. We want to get involved on any level we can."

Brian Farrell is ever thankful for Jim Beam's involvement in his fundraising efforts and praises them saying, "Their main objective is clear here, to help firefighters, not to sell the product. That's really one of the first times a company stepped up and said, 'We'll be second, you be first.'"

The specially labeled bottles are being released in various markets throughout the United States, and new chapters of the Terry Farrell Firefighter Fund are being established across the nation. To become a part of one of these chapters or to make a donation, please visit www.terryfarrellfund.org.