OUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

The IAFF and its affiliates support numerous charitable activities at the local and international levels. Each of these funds holds 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status and operates for the benefit of the members the IAFF is privileged to serve.

The IAFF administers several charitable funds that focus on helping its members and their families when they are in a time of need.

Those funds include:

The IAFF Burn Foundation, created in 1982, is one of the largest non-governmental sources for burn research grants. The Burn Foundation is also the sponsor of the annual National Children’s Burn Camp held each fall in Washington, DC. It has distributed more than $2,000,000 to burn research that has resulted in measurable improvements in burn treatment techniques and in the quality of life for burn survivors of all ages.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the IAFF Counseling Support Foundation was created to provide immediate and long-term counseling services to professional fire fighters, professional emergency medical personnel and their families. The Counseling Support Foundation has provided the FDNY Counseling Service Unit with more than $3,000,000 in direct support for its efforts in providing counseling services for fire fighters, emergency medical personnel and their families. Because of the stress and trauma associated with responding to emergencies and natural and man-made disasters, the IAFF has made it a priority to provide short- and long-term counseling for our members and their families, as it has also done in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund, established in 1993 following Hurricane Andrew, provides assistance to IAFF members in the United States and Canada who suffer financial hardship and losses as the result of natural or man-made disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, or fires. This fund provides an immediate source of support to IAFF members and their families for food, water, shelter, clothing, medical supplies and services in the greatest time of need. The impact of this fund was never felt more than following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005. Nearly $2,000,000 was provided to fire fighters, emergency medical personnel and their families to rebuild their lives after these storms. This destructive hurricane season has nearly exhausted our resources and ability to assist our members and their families when disaster strikes again. And we need to be there for those fire fighters and EMS workers so they can continue to serve their communities even while they suffer the kinds of personal hardships our nation witnessed following those hurricanes.

The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation was established in 1976. It provides assistance to the surviving spouses and children of those members killed in the line of duty. It also provides assistance to the surviving spouses and children of those members. Each September, a solemn memorial service is held at the site of the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial and Wall of Honor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That observance honors the ultimate sacrifice made by the individuals who gave their lives in the line of duty in the previous year. Our goal is to protect the legacy of these fallen heroes and provide ongoing assistance to their loved ones.

The IAFF McClennan Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for higher education for children of professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel killed in the line of duty. Currently, the IAFF provides scholarships for more than 25 students annually. In total, more than 300 scholarships have been awarded with $736,500 in assistance. Approximately 100 IAFF members are killed in the line of duty each year; however, the terrorist attacks in 2001 brought that year’s total to more than 400.

The IAFF Redmond Foundation supports research and education on the occupational hazards and diseases associated with fire fighting. The Redmond Foundation sponsors a major international symposium every two years on the occupational health and hazards of the fire service. This Redmond Symposium continues to evolve and respond to new threats by providing advanced training against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction in order to ensure our members can safely and effectively protect our communities.