ARC Thanks SC FF's

American Red Cross Thanks Santa Clara Firefighters, Local 1171 for Contributing to Tsunami Relief Efforts.

The Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross hosted a special “thank you” reception on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 to express their gratitude to local businesses and community groups who teamed up to raise more than $30,000 for international tsunami relief efforts.

The firefighters’ involvement in the fundraiser began when the crew at fire station 8 “C” saw on the evening news that a local community group called the Rivermark Mom’s Club was hosting a three-day bake sale to raise money for tsunami relief. “When I saw the effort that this group of families in Santa Clara’s newest community was making on behalf of the victims of this disaster, I knew that the firefighters had to get involved,” said Local 1171 Secretary Jeremy Ray, who was on-duty when the story aired.

Over the following week, the story of the club’s fundraising effort was circulated around the department and the members of Local 1171 responded by donating a total of $2,800.00--matching 50% of the total funds raised by the three-day bake sale. Ciara Balagot, President of the Rivermark Mom’s Club, was overwhelmed by the show of support from local firefighters and has since committed her club to assisting the firefighters in their own local fundraising efforts on behalf of the Santa Clara Firefighters’ Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to fund the charitable activities of Local 1171.

The partnership has already resulted in the planning of a Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation “Tip-A-Firefighter” event to be held at a local restaurant in the Rivermark community, hosted by the Rivermark Mom’s Club and the Santa Clara Firefighters’ Foundation. “When we sincerely reach out to the members of the communities that we serve,” said Brother Ray, “there is no limit to what we can accomplish.”