WELCOME
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The Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs is a nonprofit organization dedicated to aiding the Colorado Springs Fire Department. Through donations of funds and resources, the Foundation supports Colorado Springs firefighters by promoting excellence within the department, and improving public safety for the city of Colorado Springs by providing resources not otherwise readily available from traditional sources. “In the nation’s 41st largest city, our fire department faces many challenges on a day-to-day basis,” said William Nelson, past president of the Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs. “The Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs provides an important avenue for the private sector to come alongside the department and support its mission.”
Like fire departments around the world, fire foundations trace their history back to the Great Fire of London which raged from September 2 to September 5, 1666, when that city’s citizens, most of Europe, and Britain’s colonies realized that a permanent and well-prepared organization was needed to fight fires quickly and effectively. The prevalence of these organizations spread across the United States quickly, with notable fire foundations representing major fire departments throughout the U. S. With the support of fire foundations, innovations, experiments and community fire prevention efforts occurred in fire departments nationwide. Traditionally, fire foundations support fire departments with resources not available through their respective city administrations. As the major source of private support, fire foundations share in the vision that communities are made safer and better places to live thanks to the hard work and dedication of firefighters. Fire foundations serve local fire departments by fundraising, providing contributors to make tax-exempt gifts and individuals donations to improve the effectiveness of firefighter activities. |
Operation Gratitude donates food, personal care items to CSFD firefighters
Operation Gratitude donations to Colorado Springs firefighters.
Colorado Springs firefighters received a generous donation of food and personal care items from Operation Gratitude, a California-based nonprofit that supports the military, veterans and first responders.
Two pallets, delivered to the department’s Logistics and Transportation Center, included Girl Scout cookies, nuts, granola bars, bags of Starbucks coffee, drink mixes and candy. Personal care items included lip balm, mouthwash, lotion, and sunscreen. Operation Gratitude’s shipment also contained handwritten notes from schoolchildren to the firefighters.
The Walmart store on Platte Avenue and Chelton Road in Colorado Springs donated 500 shopping bags to the fire department so all the food, personal items, and notes could be individually packaged and delivered to the city’s firefighters.
“I can’t express my thanks strongly enough to Operation Gratitude,” Colorado Springs Fire Chief Ted Collas, said. “Our firefighters appreciate this charitable donation and Operation Gratitude’s tireless support for our nation’s military, veterans and first responders.”
According to its website, since 2003, Operation Gratitude has delivered more than 2.6 million care packages and has provided opportunities for countless Americans to forge strong bonds with their military and first responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. In 2019 alone, more than 1 million volunteers participated in 10,000 Operation Gratitude service projects nationwide.
Two pallets, delivered to the department’s Logistics and Transportation Center, included Girl Scout cookies, nuts, granola bars, bags of Starbucks coffee, drink mixes and candy. Personal care items included lip balm, mouthwash, lotion, and sunscreen. Operation Gratitude’s shipment also contained handwritten notes from schoolchildren to the firefighters.
The Walmart store on Platte Avenue and Chelton Road in Colorado Springs donated 500 shopping bags to the fire department so all the food, personal items, and notes could be individually packaged and delivered to the city’s firefighters.
“I can’t express my thanks strongly enough to Operation Gratitude,” Colorado Springs Fire Chief Ted Collas, said. “Our firefighters appreciate this charitable donation and Operation Gratitude’s tireless support for our nation’s military, veterans and first responders.”
According to its website, since 2003, Operation Gratitude has delivered more than 2.6 million care packages and has provided opportunities for countless Americans to forge strong bonds with their military and first responder heroes through volunteer service projects, acts of gratitude, and meaningful engagements in communities nationwide. In 2019 alone, more than 1 million volunteers participated in 10,000 Operation Gratitude service projects nationwide.
Remember, respect our first responders, essential workers
All of us in Colorado Springs have been asked to make many adjustments to our routines during the past several weeks. As we slowly try to return to some semblance of a “normal” lifestyle, Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs wants to recognize the dedication and sacrifices of our first responders.
While most of us have been asked to avoid leaving the safety of our homes, our firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs and medical professionals, in addition to thousands of other essential workers, have been laboring 24/7 to ensure the impacts of COVID-19 are limited and contained as much as possible. Fire Foundation board members, along with our entire community, are grateful for the commitment and willingness of all first responders to place others before self.
During a recent video meeting, Colorado Springs Fire Chief Ted Collas told the Fire Foundation board that he could not be prouder of his firefighter’s “dedication and sacrifices” during the pandemic. He was particularly pleased to say that the department has remained “COVID-19 free” and attributes that to the availability of personal protective equipment and to the firefighter’s training and discipline.
Fire Foundation board members continue to support the department during these challenging days, and we encourage Colorado Springs residents to remember and honor the commitment of our firefighters and all first responders and other essential workers. By doing our part, we can help ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of our frontline heroes.
While most of us have been asked to avoid leaving the safety of our homes, our firefighters, police officers, paramedics, EMTs and medical professionals, in addition to thousands of other essential workers, have been laboring 24/7 to ensure the impacts of COVID-19 are limited and contained as much as possible. Fire Foundation board members, along with our entire community, are grateful for the commitment and willingness of all first responders to place others before self.
During a recent video meeting, Colorado Springs Fire Chief Ted Collas told the Fire Foundation board that he could not be prouder of his firefighter’s “dedication and sacrifices” during the pandemic. He was particularly pleased to say that the department has remained “COVID-19 free” and attributes that to the availability of personal protective equipment and to the firefighter’s training and discipline.
Fire Foundation board members continue to support the department during these challenging days, and we encourage Colorado Springs residents to remember and honor the commitment of our firefighters and all first responders and other essential workers. By doing our part, we can help ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of our frontline heroes.
2021 Awards & Recognition Ceremony upended by Covid-19
In-person ceremony canceled due to ongoing virus spread, statewide restrictions
Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs and the Colorado Springs Fire Department have canceled the Annual CSFD Awards and Recognition Ceremony scheduled for February 2021.
"Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and current statewide restrictions, the Foundation's leadership team, in conjuction with the Colorado Springs Fire Department's leadership team, decided to cancel the ceremony, which has attracted several hundred people to past ceremonies," said Rob Welch, Fire Foundation president. "The fire department may explore another way to recognize and honor award recipients," Welch said.
The Awards and Recognition Ceremony is the one time each year when the Fire Department gathers as one to honor those among its ranks for their contributions to the department and the city. Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs hosts the dinner as part of its role to help strengthen the fire department's services, promote excellence within the department, and to support public safety in Colorado Springs.
While the 2021 ceremony has been interrupted by Covid-19, donations to support future ceremonies, and quarterly awards breakfasts, are always welcomed. If you would like to donate to support our mission, please click on the donate button above.
"Given the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and current statewide restrictions, the Foundation's leadership team, in conjuction with the Colorado Springs Fire Department's leadership team, decided to cancel the ceremony, which has attracted several hundred people to past ceremonies," said Rob Welch, Fire Foundation president. "The fire department may explore another way to recognize and honor award recipients," Welch said.
The Awards and Recognition Ceremony is the one time each year when the Fire Department gathers as one to honor those among its ranks for their contributions to the department and the city. Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs hosts the dinner as part of its role to help strengthen the fire department's services, promote excellence within the department, and to support public safety in Colorado Springs.
While the 2021 ceremony has been interrupted by Covid-19, donations to support future ceremonies, and quarterly awards breakfasts, are always welcomed. If you would like to donate to support our mission, please click on the donate button above.
Strengthening the services of the Colorado Springs Fire Department
by providing resources not otherwise available from the City.
Chaplain's Vehicle
The fire department would like to provide its volunteer chaplains with a dependable four-wheel drive vehicle to ensure the chaplains can effectively support local residents and firefighters during extremely trying times.
Fire Foundation, King Soopers team to support CS firefighters
Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs is teaming with King Soopers to raise money to much needed firefighting equipment for Colorado Springs firefighters. King Soopers customers can contribute to the effort every time they shop. To learn more about this easy way to donate to the Foundation and Colorado Springs firefighters, see the Donate page.
Sponsors
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