Press Release

Illinois Fire Chiefs Education & Research Foundation

July 8th, 2008 - On behalf of the member of the Illinois Fire Chiefs' Association Education and Research Foundation, we gratefully acknowledge your support and participation in this years annual golf outing. The benefits of this project are many and there is no more important cause than advancing the education of firefighters throughout Illinois. We owe many thanks to supporters like you and the volunteers who have donated their time and effort to help us meet this crucial mission.

The challenges facing today's firefighters increase in complexity every day. Training and preparedness are essential to maximizing firefighter safety and benefit every community and every individual who places their life on the line in service of another. To this end, the Foundation continues to provide scholarships and grants to firefighters and education institutions for undergraduate, post-graduate, and vocational education specifically related to fire service training. With your assistance, the Foundation will again be able to provide almost $70,000 to the improvement of education in the fire service - a truly remarkable and essential accomplishment!

In the wake of the events of September 11, 2001 emergency responders have become pivotal to the successful preservation of Homeland Security. Illinois leads the nation in emergency preparedness and your active participation reflects your devotion to the maintenance and advancement of the fire service and its ability to successfully fight fire and battle every adversary. We sincerely appreciate your continued support and thank you in advance for your future participation.

Sincerely,

Andrew O'Donnel
Chief, Chicago Fire Department (Retired)
Illinois Fire Chief's Education and Research Foundation President

T.E. Sashko
Chief, Mundelein Fire Department
2008 Foundation Gold Outing Co-Chair

William Glade
Deputy Chief, Waconda Fire Department
2008 Foundation Gold Outing Co-Chair