Community Programs
Here are some of the ways we give back to our Phoenix community
IAFF & MDA: A PROUD PARTNERSHIP
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the largest national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). More than 280,000 members of the IAFF in the United States and Canada are pledged to saving lives, both as fire fighters and paramedics and as the strongest campaigners for the worldwide research efforts of MDA to eradicate 40 neuromuscular diseases. The contributions of the fire fighters also go towards MDA’s summer camps for children, professional and public health education, and other programs.
As the greatest contributor to MDA, fire fighters are everywhere in the efforts of MDA to raise money. The IAFF is the biggest sponsor of MDA’s Labor Day Telethon and it contributed a record breaking $23.5 million in year 2006 as a consequence of the overwhelming enthusiasm and contribution of tens and thousands of fire fighters and paramedics across the US and Canada. IAFF members have donated nearly $275 million to MDA since 1954.
The IAFF raised millions of dollars throughout the entire year through their passionate Fill the Boot campaigns, in which fire fighters greet motorists, shoppers and others and ask them to donate money to MDA. This year’s upcoming IAFF-MDA events are expected to raise even more to cure these crushing illnesses.
The marriage between the devotion of fire fighters with the cause of MDA has emerged as one of the strongest example of selflessness in the history of charity, and IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger is committed to elevating this tradition to even higher levels. The IAFF is designing a plan to further expand and enhance the IAFF’s relationship and role with MDA.
Over the ensuing decades, the commitment of the professional fire fighters to the cause of MDA has further elevated their status as extraordinary professionals who not only put their lives at stake to save citizens from ruthless flames, but also give their time to save the lives of the innocent from equally merciless neuromuscular diseases. The devotion of IAFF members has not only helped MDA, but also united fire fighters in a community where they share their team strength and brotherhood to give better meaning to lives and hope for the future.
Fill the Boot
IAFF & MDA: A PROUD PARTNERSHIP
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the largest national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). More than 280,000 members of the IAFF in the United States and Canada are pledged to saving lives, both as fire fighters and paramedics and as the strongest campaigners for the worldwide research efforts of MDA to eradicate 40 neuromuscular diseases. The contributions of the fire fighters also go towards MDA’s summer camps for children, professional and public health education, and other programs.
As the greatest contributor to MDA, fire fighters are everywhere in the efforts of MDA to raise money. The IAFF is the biggest sponsor of MDA’s Labor Day Telethon and it contributed a record breaking $23.5 million in year 2006 as a consequence of the overwhelming enthusiasm and contribution of tens and thousands of fire fighters and paramedics across the US and Canada. IAFF members have donated nearly $275 million to MDA since 1954.
The IAFF raised millions of dollars throughout the entire year through their passionate Fill the Boot campaigns, in which fire fighters greet motorists, shoppers and others and ask them to donate money to MDA. This year’s upcoming IAFF-MDA events are expected to raise even more to cure these crushing illnesses.
The marriage between the devotion of fire fighters with the cause of MDA has emerged as one of the strongest example of selflessness in the history of charity, and IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger is committed to elevating this tradition to even higher levels. The IAFF is designing a plan to further expand and enhance the IAFF’s relationship and role with MDA.
Over the ensuing decades, the commitment of the professional fire fighters to the cause of MDA has further elevated their status as extraordinary professionals who not only put their lives at stake to save citizens from ruthless flames, but also give their time to save the lives of the innocent from equally merciless neuromuscular diseases. The devotion of IAFF members has not only helped MDA, but also united fire fighters in a community where they share their team strength and brotherhood to give better meaning to lives and hope for the future.
Adopt a Fence
The Pool Fence Program was established in 2001, after a record number of drownings, condensed to two small zip codes in a community in west Phoenix. The United Phoenix Fire Fighter Community Charities along with several other local charitable organizations, combines to create The Adopt-A- Pool Fence Program, which provides pool fences to families in need. The Adopt-A- Pool Fence Program, which meets board of directors meets monthly to select families based upon their financial situation, special circumstances and the number of children living in the house. Since 2001 the program has installed over 800 pool fences and is responsible for saving countless lives. We will continue our efforts until every child is safe.
POOL FENCE APPLICATION
Please contact Program Coordinator at (602) 277-1500 with any questions.
Completed applications can be emailed to poolfence@local493.org,
faxed to (602) 277-0003, or mailed to:
Adopt-a- Pool-Fence Program
61 E. Columbus
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
TIPS
- Adult supervision is the best prevention against drowning.
- Never leave a child unattended by a bathtub, lake, pond, canal or other sources of water.
- About 25 children in the U.S. die each year of drowning in a bucket. Never leave buckets of water unattended.
- Safety latches for toilets are recommended.
- A pool or spa should be barricaded by a fence with locks.
- Don’t drink alcohol around water.
- Never swim in canals – canal sides are extremely slick, which makes it difficult to get out
- Keep lifesaving devices by the pool, such as a pole or a flotation device.
- Check placement of doggie doors for direct access to the pool area.
- Teach children to swim. But remember that even if children can swim, they are still susceptible to drowning.
CPR & First Aid
The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Charities offers training in American Heart Association CPR/AED and First Aid classes. All classes are open the community and there is no pre-registration. Class participants will receive an American Heart Association Card at the end of training. The fee for the class is $40.00 per person.
CPR/AED and CPR/First Aid Courses – Held the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month at 5 pm. . Washington Activity Center located at 2240 W Citrus Way, 23rd Avenue just north of Bethany Home Road.
No courses held on major holidays and the week of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
We also offer classes to groups of 8 or more held at your location.
For more information please call our office at 602-277-1500 and ask for Kenny Nixon or email at knixon@Local493.org. Please allow 24 hours for a return call or email.
Babysitter Certification
The United Phoenix Fire Fighter Association holds Babysitter Certification classes at local community centers throughout the valley. Classes can also be arranged for Girl Scout Troops or large groups at different locations if desired. This class is geared toward youths starting and the age of 10 and up. The students will learn the ins and outs of babysitting along with CPR, what to do in choking emergencies and 1st aid training. Our goal is to not only help babysitters keep the children they watch safe, but to keep themselves safe as well. Please contact us at babysitter@local493.org with questions or for more information on registering or setting up a class.
Water, Coat, & Turkey Drives
Every spring Firefighters from United Phoenix Firefighters hit the streets for multiple events to collect water for those in our community who need it. As we know summer’s here is Phoenix area are brutally hot and can be deadly if you are not prepared. We work with organizations that help kids and our homeless populations to distribute the water all summer long.
When the summer heat subsides, we turn our efforts to our Coat and Turkey Drives. While Phoenix is not home to crazy winter storms, we still drop in to low temperatures that can be deadly. We work with a lot of the same organizations we partner with for water drive to get coats to those in our community in need.
You can find us at local grocery stores the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving to collect Turkeys for those in need. All of our drives are supplemented by funds we raise throughout the year not just the donations we receive at the drives themselves.
Firestrong
The profession of Firefighting exposes firefighters to extremely brutal situations from children drowning to people losing everything in a house fire and everything in between. We have an extremely high suicide rate within our profession. This has been directly related back to PTSD and other mental health issues stemming from calls and other situations on the job. In 2013, after having 5 suicides in 3 years from our own members, we decided to take action and Firestrong was born. Firestrong is a website that allows our members (and other firefighters from around the country) to seek help anonymously. The website plugs firefighters in to a network of people from counselors and doctors to their own peers that have experienced similar problems and got help. Firestrong is not funded from the money we raise in the community, but rather from Fire Departments themselves or Labor Unions paying for subscriptions for their firefighters. While Firestrong was started by members of United Phoenix Firefighters it now has almost 100 different Fire Departments across the country subscribed to its services.
CHECK OUT FIRESTRONG.ORG FOR MORE INFO.
Firefighter Christmas
Just before Christmas we work with schools, churches, and youth organizations to find kids in need to bring to “Firefighter Christmas”. On this one-day event our firefighters are each paired up with a kid and brought on a $100 shopping spree at Target. Their entire family is invited and all the kids from each of the families are included. In addition to shopping spree we host the children and their families to breakfast complete with Santa on-site for pictures!
Support Through Other Organizations
Firestar
Firestar is our program that allows our members to help immediately on the scene of an emergency if they find a need. This account will reimburse our members up to $500 when they provide receipts from however they helped a family in a particular situation. There are guidelines to how and what our members can help with things to which they are all provided. If additional help is needed above $500 the family in need is put in touch with our organization.
Honor Guard
MORE INFO COMING SOON
Contact the office for program details
602-555-1234
L493 Scholarship
2020 UPFFA LOCAL 493 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
The United Phoenix Fire Fighters Association Local 493 creed is to take care of those who served before us, those who are serving now, and those who will serve in the future. Since the 1970’s Local 493 has offered scholarships to the college bound children of our members. In 2001, the Executive Board realized the cost of going to college increased drastically and the UPFFA Scholarship Program was increased to help pay a portion of freshman expenses. In 2016 we announced that the UPFFA Local 493 Scholarship Program received a Grant and the monetary awards were increased. We are excited to announce that we are now able to give 13 scholarships and (5) of them will be a four-year scholarship.
See details below.
APPLICANTS MUST:
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Be a Graduating High School Senior from an accredited Arizona High School, Class of 2020
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The son, stepson, daughter, stepdaughter of an Active or Retired Member of Local 493 in good standing
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Minimum 2.75 High School Grade Point Average (GPA)
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Enroll in a four-year accredited College, University, or AZ Community College full time
MONETARY AWARDS:
Duane Pell Scholarship – $4000 the first year; $3000 annually for 3 years*
Pat Cantelme Scholarship – $4000 the first year; $3000 annually for 3 years*
Al Cruz Scholarship – $4000 the first year; $3000 annually for 3 years*
Benny Ashley Scholarship – $4000 the first year; $3000 annually for 3 years*
Jimmy Arcadia Scholarship – $4000 the first year; $3000 annually for 3 years*
Douglas W Mummert Community Service Scholarship – $4000
Cadet Gabriel Ingallina Scholarship – $2750
AZ United Black Firefighters J.W.R. Scholarship – $2500
Valley Hispanic Bomberos Tony Torres Scholarship – $2500
Emerald Society Howard Adams Scholarship – $2500
Valley Fire Fighter Veterans Society Scholarship – $2500
Valley Women’s FF Society Crystal Rezzonico Scholarship – $2500
Phoenix Fire Foundation Scholarship – $2500
* Annual Scholarship renewal is contingent on the student maintaining a full-time status in their respective institution and maintaining a minimum of 2.75 GPA
This year’s essay topic and a copy of the rules and guidelines will be mailed to applicants on February 10, 2020.
Please call the office at 602-277-1500 with any questions.
