Charity Update - Memphis Fire Fighters Association

[BlackWS6]

OK gang ... I wanted to provide a better explanation of the Memphis Fire Fighters Association and how the charity funds will be used. 

The charity nomination was for a "Fallen Firefighters Fund" ... and after doing some research into it, we found that the fund is provided by the local firefighters union through the Memphis Fire Fighters Association.  I have spoken with their officers and found out some specific information about the fund and how it is used.

The fund is a "Family Assistance Fund" and it does much more than simply provide financial aide for the families of fallen firefighters.  So that's a bonus, our funds will reach more people.  The fund is designed to provide financial assistance when there is a time of need such as a home destroyed by fire, act of God, etc.  Also, if a firefighter is off payroll due to an extended illness or injury, and they have run out of sick time and all other work leave options, they can request financial assistance through the Executive Board which serves as the Board of Directors for the fund.

Heaven forbid there is a firefighter death in the line of duty.  But, if there is, a check is immediately cut and given to the family to assist with immediate expenses.


The MFFA gives out approximately $20,000 annually from this fund and each case is reviewed by the board to ensure it is a legitimate request.

I witnessed this fund in action first hand earlier this month.  A friend of mine who is also a firefighter tragically lost his son.  Like most of us, he did carry burial insurance, and like most of us he did not have a life insurance policy on his son.  Nobody expects to have to bury a child.  The MFFA provided him with a payment to assist with the burial and funeral expenses.  If you haven't priced a funeral and burial lately, you can expect them to *start* at $6,000, and the funeral home wants it *right then*.  The payment certainly did not come close to covering that amount, but everything helps.

Although it could be argued that our funds should be earmarked specifically for a line-of-duty-death of a firefighter, I think we're better off leaving it in the general assistance fund.  I have witnessed first hand the death of firefighters inside a fire.  The amount of grief felt throughout the department is almost unbearable.  Then you have their families who suddenly do not have a husband, a wife, or a father.  Certainly the families of these brave men and women killed in the line of duty deserve our assistance.  But we should not limit it strictly to that.  For us to limit our financial assistance only to those who have gone through such a traumatic experience means that we require the death of a hero.

If anyone has any questions, please ask.

[Rested Soul]

Still sounds good to me.  I really want to give back to a group that is there to help all of us, even if I don't like in Memphis, these people put their lives on the line to save others, or even to put out any fire, as they never know what might be inside and go off.  My hat is off to all of them.