“Tip A Firefighter”

I am pleased to report that "Tip A Firefighter 04" was a great success. The generous patrons and employees of Holder's Country Inn donated a total of $2814.00 on Saturday (in six hours!) to benefit the Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation.

I would like to personally thank all of the participants from our department. They are: Steve Maciel, Bill Stone, Darrell Sales, Ron McDowell, Dave Battagin, Nick Delgado, Robert Contreras, Dennis Yee, and Nick Meyer. And a special thank you to Stephanie Christenberry from Haz Mat for being there too. Stephanie was there for the duration...

On a special note, I want to thank the crew of Station 2A Craig Johnson, Scott Sorensen, Matt Vanni, and Todd Siegfried) for taking time out of their day to be there and support the effort.

Finally, a big thank you to Holder's Country Inn for providing the decorations and festive atmosphere. The employees there are the best. I encourage all of you to patronize this establishment as they continue to support the efforts of your foundation.

Brother Mike Ryan, Event Coordinator and Foundation President

The Wedge - All dressed up and someplace to go!	Dennis Yee and Ron McDowell pause for a quick pic in between orders.	From left to right - Rich Holder, Sylvia (waitress), Stephanie Christenberry, and Mike Ryan.

SCFF's Foundation

Below are a few questions and answers about why we are here at the restaurant today… Q: What is “Tip A Firefighter?” A: “Tip A Firefighter” is an annual event held near Fire Prevention Week that raises funds for charitable organizations that are supported by the Santa Clara Firefighters Local 1171. The event also provides opportunities for interaction between the public and firefighters. Please feel free to ask any questions regarding fire department procedures or operations. Q: Are these people collecting donations on “city time?” A: No. All the personnel inside the restaurant are “off duty” and volunteering in their free time. The uniformed personnel outside are on duty, and are ready to respond to any emergency that may arise. Their function is to answer any fire prevention questions you may have. However, if a call comes in, they will respond immediately. Q: What is the Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation? A: In short, the Foundation is the charitable arm of the Santa Clara Firefighters Local 1171 labor organization. The Santa Clara Firefighters are affiliated with the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters). It is a fully authorized non-profit charitable organization ( 501 (c) (3) ) that is committed to helping those in need within the city of Santa Clara, and others with special needs. Q: Which organizations are supported by the Foundation? A: Below is a list of those supported. • The Muscular Dystrophy Association o Medical research and services for those afflicted with neuromuscular diseases • The Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation o Funds are used to send burn survivors to a summer camp where they are free to enjoy a number of activities with other burn survivors. Several of your firefighters are counselors at these camps. • The “Ride A Wave” Foundation o Persons with physical or mental disabilities are afforded the opportunity to enjoy surfing under totally supervised conditions. Several members of the department spend many hours providing this popular service to the less fortunate. • Better Things o Firefighters provide mentoring services to “at risk” youth at local junior high schools to show that there are better things than gangs and violence. • Local 1171 Senior Assist Program o Off duty firefighters form work groups to help those that have difficulty in the upkeep of their property. Services include weed abatement, general yard clean up, installation of grab rails in tub areas, etc. • V.I.A. Rehabilitation Services o Funds are used to send physically disabled citizens to summer camps where they are allowed to enjoy activities with other disabled persons. V.I.A. also provides resources for those who cannot afford expensive accessory items such as wheelchairs, electric scooters, etc. In fact, as you read this, a team of 12 firefighters is running a relay race from the wine country to Santa Cruz to support V.I.A. Further, the Foundation is set up to provide emergency aid to any Santa Clarans that may suffer a fire or other disaster. Your firefighters are deeply involved in community service. We feel truly blessed to be part of a noble profession that has a long-standing reputation for helping anyone in need. Supporting these noble causes is one way for firefighters to give back to the community. Santa Clara and its citizens show strong support for their public safety providers. This is one way of returning to the community our appreciation for that support. Please feel free to ask your servers any questions about the department or the Foundation. Every effort will be made to answer those questions. Also, pick up a free smoke detector provided by Local 1171 if your current one was installed longer than 10 years ago. They do lose their potency and reliability with time. Thank you for your consideration of our efforts… Michael T. Ryan President, Santa Clara Firefighters Foundation

10/10/2004