NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION
16825 S SETON AVENUE, EMMITSBURG, MD 217278920 www.firehero.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: TO HONOR AND REMEMBER AMERICA'S FALLEN FIREFIGHTER HEROES, TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO ASSIST THEIR FAMILIES IN REBUILDING THEIR LIVES, AND WORK WITHIN THE FIRE SERVICE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE FIREFIGHTER DEATHS AND INJURIES.

FAMILY PROGRAMS - TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FIRE SERVICE FAMILIES. SPONSORED THE FIRE HERO FAMILIES WELLNESS CONFERENCE IN PORTLAND, MAINE. THIS CONFERENCE ALLOWED FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE IN INSIGHTFUL WORKSHOPS ON SUPPORTING CHILDREN EXPERIENCING GRIEF, INTEGRATION, BLENDING PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AND HEALING THROUGH EACH OF THESE STAGES AND PARTICIPANTS LEARNED WAYS TO CULTIVATE GRATITUDE AND COUNTERACT NEGATIVITY BY FOCUSING ON WHAT IS GOOD. THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 428 FIRE HERO FAMILY SUPPORT NETWORK MEMBERS FROM 45 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THESE FIRE HERO FAMILIES ASSISTED THE FOUNDATION BY PROVIDING PEER SUPPORT TO NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILIES. NEWLY BEREAVED FAMILIES WERE CAREFULLY MATCHED WITH NETWORK MEMBERS. THERE WERE 263 NETWORK MEMBERS WHO SENT 4,316 REMEMBRANCE CARDS TO FAMILIES ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR LOVED ONE'S DEATH. MORE THAN 150 NETWORK MEMBERS SUPPORTED ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL WEEKEND. NETWORK MEMBERS ALSO VOLUNTEER WITH FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDED GRIEF BROCHURES TO FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS IN 8 STATES. PREPARED AND SENT FIVE ISSUES OF THE JOURNEY DEALING WITH LOSS AND FAMILY-TO-FAMILY SUPPORT. EACH ISSUE WAS SENT TO MORE THAN 4,100 SURVIVORS. AWARDED 69 SCHOLARSHIPS TO SPOUSES, LIFE PARTNERS, CHILDREN, AND STEPCHILDREN, ENABLING THEM TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS.FIREFIGHTERS HELPED CHILDREN COPE WITH THE LOSS OF A PARENT. THESE ARE WEEKEND BEREAVEMENT CAMPS THAT PROVIDE CHILDREN AN OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND GAIN TOOLS TO COPE WITH THEIR GRIEF. CAMPS WERE HELD IN BRADFORD WOODS AND BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA, WITH 55 CHILDREN AGES 4-17 ATTENDING. WHILE THE CHILDREN WERE AT CAMP, PARENTS ATTENDED A SESSION PROVIDING INFORMATION ON HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN THROUGH THE GRIEF PROCESS.

FIRE SERVICE PROGRAMS - THE EVERYONE GOES HOME (EGH) PROGRAM AND THE 16 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF THE NFFF'S FIREFIGHTER LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH AND INJURY PREVENTION EFFORTS. THESE PROGRAMS PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF FIREFIGHTER HEALTH AND SAFETY INTO THE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND CULTURE OF THE NATION'S FIRE SERVICE CAREER, VOLUNTEER, COMBINATION, MILITARY, AND WILDLAND. THE EFFORTS ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF FIREFIGHTER FATALITIES AND INJURIES. THROUGH THE EGH PROGRAMS, THE NFFF DEVELOPS HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, LIFE SAFETY TRAINING AND OFFICER DEVELOPMENT DELIVERIES THAT PROVIDE STRATEGIES FIREFIGHTERS AND OFFICERS CAN APPLY TO MAXIMIZE AN EMPHASIS ON OPERATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND RISK MANAGEMENT. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED AT NO- OR LOW-COST VIA THE NFFF'S ONLINE FIRE HERO TRAINING NETWORK AND/OR THE EGH ADVOCATES PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, EGH ADVANCES COMMUNITY RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS AS PART OF A STRATEGY TO REDUCE THE NUMBER AND INTENSITY OF FIRES, THEREBY REDUCING RISK TO FIREFIGHTERS; SUPPORTS ASSOCIATED RESEARCH AND PILOT PROJECTS THAT POSITIVELY IMPACT FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND WELLNESS; AND ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVED STANDARDS FOR TRAINING, PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND BEHAVIORAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH PROGRAMS, PARTICULARLY THOSE ADDRESSING OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES. THE NFFF ALSO PROVIDES PROGRAMMING THAT ASSISTS FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO BOTH PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. "TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN" TRAINS OFFICERS IN PRE-INCIDENT PLANNING, SURVIVOR NOTIFICATION, FAMILY AND CO-WORKER SUPPORT, AND BENEFITS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES AND CO-WORKERS. LOCAL ASSISTANCE STATE TEAMS ARE MOBILIZED UPON REQUEST TO OFFER BOTH IMMEDIATE AND LONGER-TERM LOGISTICAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FIRE SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LINE-OF-DUTY DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. THESE TRAINED TEAMS, LOCATED IN ALMOST EVERY STATE, PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO SURVIVING FAMILY MEMBERS APPLYING FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS.

MEMORIAL WEEKEND - NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IN OCTOBER, THE FOUNDATION HOSTED THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL TRIBUTE TO AMERICA'S HEROES HONORING 92 FIREFIGHTERS WHO DIED IN 2018 AND 27 FROM PREVIOUS YEARS. THE NFFF PROVIDED LODGING, MEALS, AND TRAVEL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILIES. 499 FIRE HERO FAMILIES ATTENDED THE MEMORIAL WEEKEND. GRIEF AND OTHER COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED FOR 140 FAMILY MEMBERS. 525 HONOR GUARD UNITS AND 239 FIRE SERVICE FAMILY ESCORTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED IN HONORING THEIR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. 165 FIRE HERO FAMILY MEMBERS FROM PREVIOUS YEARS RETURNED TO ASSIST WITH NEW FAMILY REGISTRATION AND NEW FAMILY DAILY ACTIVITIES. MORE THAN 5,000 ATTENDED THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE. THE MEMORIAL SERVICES WERE LIVE STREAMED AND BROADCAST OVER THE INTERNET.

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