Feel Good Friday - National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

As I write this Feel Good Friday post, there are hundreds of fires burning in the western United States and thousands of firefighters working to contain them. Given this situation and the fact that it’s September 11^th, it seems like a great day to profile the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

 

Created by Congress in 1992 to lead a nationwide effort to honor America’s fallen firefighters, the mission of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is “to honor and remember America’s fallen fire heroes, to provide resources to assist their families rebuilding their lives, and work within the fire service community to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries.”

 

Fire service programs provided by the NFFF include a set of initiatives to prevent line-of-duty deaths called Everyone Goes Home, a community risk reduction program that encourages the public to be proactive in fire safety, and a network for fire chiefs to support each other and share information.

 

Resources for families of fallen firefighters include virtual support groups and self-care and wellness videos. Full family programs range from bereavement camps for children to financial assistance for post-secondary education and access to the fire hero family network.

 

To honor and remember fallen fire heroes, every October, the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland hosts the official national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line of duty during the previous year. This year, in lieu of an in person gathering, a National Tribute to Honor America’s Fallen Firefighters will be broadcast on October 4^th at 10:00am EDT. 

 

Other events that support National Fallen Firefighters Foundation include golf tournaments, racing events and 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs that honor the FDNY firefighters who gave their lives on September 11^th, 2001. Today’s event is virtual, and the money raised helps the NFFF create and maintain the programs that support fire service survivors. 

 

If you’d like to support the work of NFFF you can make a donation, shop for gear and share the love on social media by liking their Facebook page and following them on Twitter @NFFF_News.