The Foundation was established in 1994 as a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Florida and received its IRS classification as a 501 (c)3 charitable organization. Board representation includes individuals from the public and private sector invoiced in life safety.
The mission of the Florida Fire & Emergency Services Foundation is to provide educational opportunities, including scholarships, to fire and emergency services professionals, develop public relations programs to promote and raise public awareness of Florida's fire and emergency services; to assist other related organizations in the development and implementation of public education programs and provide grants to fire and emergency service organizations.
The activities of the Florida Fire & Emergency Services Foundation are funded by personal donations, corporate giving and fund raising events. To make a contribution to the Florida Fire & Emergency Services Foundation [click here]
September Message
Foundation Chairman
Tuffy Dixon, Fire Chief, Retired
A good time was had by all!
I am writing this article for the September Florida Fire Service Today Magazine as I have just returned from our Summer Conference in Ponte Vedra. We submit these articles a month away from print so this is my first communication with you since the conference.
I hope everyone had a great time at the summer conference and hopefully you left with some new pertinent information, a new Facebook contact or just a fond memory with family and friends. We look forward to next year’s conference in Marco Island.
Congratulations to our newest Fire Chief of the Year, Chief Jim Angle of Palm Harbor and to Chief Bill Trinder of Jasper for being selected as the Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year.
I would like to thank FFCA Past President Chief Stuart McElhaney for the outstanding job he did as President of FFCA during one of the most difficult years in the recent history of the Florida Fire Service. I would also like to thank his lovely wife, Sharla for the support and time she has given to our organization.
We look forward to this year as Chief Tom Weber takes the helm as President. Tom has outstanding leadership qualities and I have the highest respect for him.
While at Ponte Vedra we held the first annual “Unofishol” Bass Tournament. Congratulations to both of our winners. The 1st Place winner was the “Bass Queen” herself, Heather Wren.She kicked all the men’s butts with about a 4-pounder!2nd Place went to Austin Angle, son of Chief Jim Angle.A special thank you to Diane Ashe and Target Safety for sponsoring this year’s tournament and supplying the Bass Pro Shop gift cards for the winners.I also would like to thank the corporate members who sponsored many of the activities and the many contributors to this summer’s silent auction.I’m pleased to announce that with all of the many private corporations, corporate members and departments donations along with the raffle earnings the Foundation raised $9,210.00.The Florida Fire & Emergency Services Foundation Board of Trustees and I thank you!
Please start making plans to attend the Emergency Services Leadership Institute at the Daytona Beach Hilton beginning in October along with the Firefighter Safety & Health Conference being held again in Orlando December 13-15 and Fire-Rescue EAST in Daytona Beach in January of next year. Fire-Rescue EAST in particular has turned into the largest trade show and training conference in the Southeast. Our Instructor Section has many great training classes planned.Please check the FFCA website for program updates and registration along with Scholarship opportunities.
From The Trustees of The Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation, thank you for all you do!
Tuffy Dixon
Chairman, Florida Fire and Emergency Services Foundation.
