Post by SIERRA 14 on Mar 31, 2006 6:28:46 GMT -5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MORRIS TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT AWARDED GRANT FOR NEW PICK-UP TRUCK, TANK PUMP AND HOSE REEL
Department Nominated for Grant by
Local Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Employees
Morris, PA., March 24, 2006 – Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company today announced it is awarding the Morris Township Volunteer Fire Department a grant in the amount of $49,000 for a new pick-up truck, tank pump and hose reel. This new equipment will prove invaluable to the department as they are often called to respond to several types of fires: wildfires, home fires, water rescues, etc.
The Morris Township Volunteer Fire Department receives no state or federal funding to operate and is supported entirely by its fund raising efforts. Pennsylvania state representative, Matthew Baker, strongly endorsed this department in a letter stating, “The volunteers of the Morris Fire Department work very hard to provide assistance and protection to the large and rugged region they cover. I believe they truly deserve this grant.”
“We are extremely grateful for the grant from Fireman’s Fund,” said Morris Township Volunteer Fire Chief Dean Kreger. “This new equipment will greatly decrease our department’s response time to emergency calls and be especially helpful in fighting forest fires.”
The Morris Township Volunteer Fire Department was nominated for this grant by Fireman’s Fund® employee, Nancy Johnson, who is based in the company’s Liberty Corner office. This award is one of 14 employee-nominated grants the company is awarding in the first quarter of 2006.
“The Fireman’s Fund Heritage program provides employees like me an opportunity to make a difference, and this grant will go a long way in keeping the citizens of Morris Township safe,” said Nancy Johnson, client services/loss control technician, in the Fireman’s Fund Liberty Corner, New Jersey field office.
Fireman’s Fund employees and independent agents can direct grants to, and volunteer at, local fire departments, national firefighter organizations and fire and burn prevention non-profit organizations through the Fireman’s Fund HeritageSM program. Through this philanthropic program, Fireman’s Fund awards millions of dollars in grants to fire departments each year for the purchase of needed equipment, firefighter training and community education programs.
Locally, the company’s employees participate in the Fireman’s Fund Heritage “Bucket Brigade” program. Employees can direct grants to and are encouraged to volunteer with fire departments and non-profit organizations in the communities where they live and work. This program was named after the community-based approach to firefighting in the days before fire hydrants when citizens banded together to form a “bucket-brigade” – a line to pass buckets of water to fight fires. In 2005, Fireman’s Fund employees nationwide nominated 90 fire departments for grants, of which 47 received funding totaling more than $900,000, and volunteered more than 1,000 hours.
“The Fireman’s Fund Heritage program has been tremendously successful in encouraging community involvement and volunteerism with fire service organizations,” said Danielle Cagan, community relations director, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. “Our employees are delighted to be able to give back and support the fire service—while helping make their communities safer.”
About Fireman’s Fund Heritage
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company was founded in 1863 with the mission to allocate a portion of its profits to support firefighters. Today, the company is carrying forward this mission to support firefighters for safer communities through the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program. The modern-day corporate philanthropy program was created in response to the funding challenges that have left many volunteer and career fire departments without adequate resources. Fire service organizations wishing to get involved in the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program can fill out an online survey at www.firemansfund.com/heritage. Survey responses are shared with Fireman’s Fund employees and agents who may be interested in nominating a department for a grant or volunteering.
About Fireman’s Fund Fireman’s Fund is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal, commercial and specialty insurance products nationwide. Fireman’s Fund is a member of the Allianz Group (NYSE: AZ), one of the world’s largest providers of insurance and other financial services. For more information, visit our website at www.firemansfund.com.
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Media Contacts:
Danny Perry Marty Finn
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Ketchum
(212) 524-7892 (646) 935-4171