At noon on March 29, 2007, at Fire Station 3 of the Washington D.C. Fire Department, located at 439 New Jersey Avenue, NW, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) will gather members of the American fire service, surviving family members of fallen firefighters, and members of Congress at a press briefing to announce the launch of its historic campaign, “America’s Fire Heroes Whistlestop Tour.” Made possible by a grant from the Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation, the Whistle-Stop Tour is a 37-day journey across America making stops in 19 cities to promote firefighter life safety and engage the American public in fire prevention efforts nationwide.
NFFF will conduct the briefing to announce this unprecedented firefighters’ tour, one that advocates a progressive, solutions-based approach to the national problem of preventable firefighter line-of-duty deaths and injuries and the occurrence of fire in our country. Mrs. Sharon Purdy of Spencerville, Ohio, widow of fallen firefighter Lee Purdy will speak to the press. Mrs. Purdy was also active in the legislative effort for the Hometown Heroes Act of 2003. Mrs. Cathy Hedrick will share how the death of her young firefighter son lead to her passionate adoption of the NFFF efforts to reduce firefighter losses. Several members of Congress are expected to attend the briefing in full support of the tour.
Additional sponsors of the tour include Lowe’s, Kidde, ICMA Retirement Corporation (ICMA-RC), 3M Scotchlite, Motorola, American La France, Roadfitters Sprinkler Union Local 669, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, and The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program; other contributors include Firehouse.com, and the Fire Department Instructors Conference.
About The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation is a tax-exempt, nonprofit institution, established by Congress in 1992, that leads a nationwide effort to remember America’s fallen firefighters and assist their families and coworkers. In 2004, it established the Everyone Goes Home Program to help prevent firefighter line-of-duty deaths.
About The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation
The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation is a fund administered through the Boston Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to bring the people and brands of the Dunkin’ Brands system together to support the service and leadership of those who help and protect communities every day ¿ especially in times of crisis. The Dunkin’ Brands Community Foundation helps to support emergency response organizations so they have the capacity and leadership to respond when communities need them most.
For more information on the National Fallen Firefighter’s Foundation, please visit www.firehero.org or call 301.447.1365 and visit www.everyonegoeshome.com for more information about the Everyone Goes Home Program.
