California Fire Fighters Donate $1,000 to Save School Programs

From left: Hermosa Beach Local 3371 Secretary Paul Hawkins, Hermosa Beach School District Superintendent Dr. Sharon McClain, Local 3371 President Brian Grebbien, Hermosa Beach Education Foundation President Patti Ackerman and Local 3371 fire fighter James Crawford. PHOTO CREDIT: John MacLean

June 19, 2008 – Crucial Hermosa Beach, California, school programs are in danger of landing on the City budget chopping block due to a $500,000 shortfall. Hermosa Beach Local 3371 donated the proceeds from its 12th Annual Pancake Breakfast – $1,000 -- as part of the “Excellence in Education Challenge” campaign to raise needed dollars to save the programs.

While $1,000 will not make up the difference, school superintendent Sharon McClain reports that since a picture of the fire fighters handing over the check circulated among Hermosa Beach parents, another $200,000 has been donated to the cause.

“When we needed to decide which local charity our annual pancake breakfast would benefit this year, it was a no brainer,” says Brian Grebbien, president of Local 3371. “Our kids deserve the best when it comes to education. This was our way of helping out.”

In conjunction with the breakfast, Local 3371 also held a silent auction. All auction items were donated by area businesses.

Funds raised by the Excellence in Education Challenge campaign, a dual fundraising effort by the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation and the Hermosa Beach Parent Teacher Organization, will be used to fund jobs, class size reduction and libraries. Additionally, the monies will be used for music science, art, physical education and math programs.