Scholarships for Firefighters
The Illinois Fire Chiefs Association established its Educational and Research Foundation in 1978. The foundation’s objectives are to identify, investigate, and help solve fire-related problems within the state. Its functions include supporting research into technical, life safety, and scientific problems confronting the fire service; researching and developing managerial and personnel systems; conducting training and educational programs for governmental and fire service entities; and providing scholarships and grants to students, educational institutions, and municipal fire departments for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, vocational education, and other training within the fire service arena. A “not-for-profit” corporation, the foundation is funded by individuals, corporations, and the fire service of the state of Illinois.
Also instituted in 1978, the Foundation Scholarship Program began bequeathing gifts in the memory of deceased fire service personnel and supporters. The scholarships are designed to permit individuals within the state to achieve certification and further their formal education,
AWARD CATEGORIES
Scholarships are awarded in three categories: college courses, certification courses, and specialized courses meeting specific guidelines. The college courses must be in approved institutions and if fields related to the fire service.
Certification courses apply to fire officer and fire prevention officer certificat tion courses sponsored by the foundation. An individual also may apply for grants-in-‘ aid applicable to other types of educational experiences that meet the foundation’s strict criteria.
Program guidelines are prepared by the foundation’s scholarship committee, consisting of fire service professionals from across the state, and approved by its board of directors.
The scholarship selection committee is comprised of representatives of the education and business communities and the insurance industry, who work in conjunction with the executive director and the scholarship chairman of the foundation.
MONEY RAISED
Money is raised through a variety of methods, including raffles and proceeds derived from symposiums/seminars and management training programs conducted by the foundation. It took approximately five years to raise the necessary funds to award the first scholarships (in 1983). During that time, the foundation sought to involve as many state fire service groups in the program as possible. The initial award programs were completely funded by the foundation; today many state and regional groups provide financial support through “matching grants” (discussed below).
The foundation awarded seven scholarships totaling S4,400 in 1983. There were 34 applicants. These numbers have grown in subsequent years, as other fire service groups contributed funds. In 1991 and 1992, for example, 43 scholarships, totaling S29.500 and S28,500, respectively, were awarded. In 1992, there were 102 applicants.
The involvement of other state fire service associations has been instrumental to the program’s growth and success. Personal and matching-grant contributions have made it possible to help more members of the fire service increase their education and training.
MATCHING GRANTS
The foundation matches donations up to SI,000—with certain restrictions. Donations of less than S250 are placed in the general scholarship fund; those exceeding this amount may be matched if the donor requests it. The donor then may elect to name the scholarship awarded for an individual or organization. Donations exceeding S500 that are not matching grants also may be named by the donor. AH, requests for matching grants are subject to the availability of the foundation fund? designated for this purpose, as determined by the board of directors.
The “matching-grants” aspect of the scholarship program has been very successful. Through this program, the founds-* tion has united the efforts of more than 10 local and statewide fire service organiza-1 tions to support the state’s fire service.! members in their efforts to pursue additional education and training. The founda* tion now has awarded more than 250 scholarships, valued at approximately SI75,000, to recipients who have certifi*cation as fire officers I, II, and III and advanced degrees in formal education.” Interestingly, the first recipient of a schojf ⅜ arship, a firefighter, is now the chief of his fire department. All this has been made* possible through the efforts of the fire service members of Illinois, working toward a common goal—the PROFESSIONALVJ ization of the fire service through education.
