Board Members
Greg Welch, President
Bill Nelson
Margaret Sabin
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Dave Munger, Past President
Kevin Cullinan
Jina Koultchitzka
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Rob Welch, Vice President
George Reed
Barry Grossman, APR
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Lynn Pelz, Secretary
Mike Edmonds
Joel Yuhas
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Robin Roberts, Treasurer
Judy Kaltenbacher
Don Addy, Of Counsel
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Daniel Apodaca
Meredith Vaughan
Fire Chief Ted Collas, Ex Officio
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Battalion Chief Jess Kruckeberg, Ex Officio
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Niki Cicak, Coordinator
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Letter from Greg Welch, president
I am honored to serve as president of Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs. I consider it a true privilege to work with Fire Chief Ted Collas and his leadership team as our young Foundation focuses on ensuring our firefighters have the training, equipment and other resources necessary to protect our community.
One of our goals is to equip each firefighter in our city with protective vests and helmets that will provide protection against gunfire, which has, unfortunately, happened to our firefighters in the recent past. This protective equipment is highly rated and will protect our first responders from high-powered rifle rounds. The Foundation and the community have successfully outfitted firefighters assigned to stations 1 and 6, but there are hundreds of additional firefighters throughout our city who are still unprotected and at risk.
But protective gear is just one of several requests our board has received from Chief Collas and his team. Additional equipment, specifically specialized vehicles, is needed to support the department’s chaplains and the department’s heavy rescue squad. All this equipment, while vital to the safety and efficiency of the fire department and its staff, is unlikely to be funded by the Colorado Springs city budget.
That is why the Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs was established: To help provide resources not otherwise available from the city. We are committed to working with local businesses, local and regional nonprofits, and Colorado Springs residents to raise the funds necessary to fulfill our organization’s mission.
On behalf of our board of directors, thank you for visiting our website. We encourage you to learn more about Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs and about how you can support our mission to promote excellence within the Colorado Springs Fire Department and to improve public safety. Please consider a donation to help us help those who serve our community.
One of our goals is to equip each firefighter in our city with protective vests and helmets that will provide protection against gunfire, which has, unfortunately, happened to our firefighters in the recent past. This protective equipment is highly rated and will protect our first responders from high-powered rifle rounds. The Foundation and the community have successfully outfitted firefighters assigned to stations 1 and 6, but there are hundreds of additional firefighters throughout our city who are still unprotected and at risk.
But protective gear is just one of several requests our board has received from Chief Collas and his team. Additional equipment, specifically specialized vehicles, is needed to support the department’s chaplains and the department’s heavy rescue squad. All this equipment, while vital to the safety and efficiency of the fire department and its staff, is unlikely to be funded by the Colorado Springs city budget.
That is why the Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs was established: To help provide resources not otherwise available from the city. We are committed to working with local businesses, local and regional nonprofits, and Colorado Springs residents to raise the funds necessary to fulfill our organization’s mission.
On behalf of our board of directors, thank you for visiting our website. We encourage you to learn more about Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs and about how you can support our mission to promote excellence within the Colorado Springs Fire Department and to improve public safety. Please consider a donation to help us help those who serve our community.
Letter from Fire Chief Ted Collas
I want to thank you for taking an interest in the Fire Foundation of Colorado Springs. This not-for-profit organization was founded by a group of dedicated community leaders in 2015. The mission of the foundation is to help bridge the gap between the equipment needs of the department and the finances available in the Colorado Springs Fire Department budget. The Fire Foundation works closely with CSFD staff to identify and prioritize needs, then gain the support necessary to meet those needs.
Since its inception, the Fire Foundation has raised and contributed thousands of dollars to fund lifesaving equipment such as extrication cutters, used to free people trapped in vehicles after traffic accidents. This equipment enables our firefighters to care for our community with state-of-the-art tools that literally save lives. The foundation has also taken on the monumental task of outfitting our firefighters with ballistic protection by collaborating with another local non-profit, Shield616.
Firefighters are reluctant heroes; not reluctant in the sense of an unwillingness to act, but reluctant to be recognized for the incredible work they do every day. The Fire Foundation actively supports the men and women who keep Colorado Springs safe by funding the annual Awards and Recognition Committee banquet. At this event our firefighters are celebrated for the care, compassion, and courage they demonstrate as they go above and beyond the call of duty.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department is grateful to the members of the Fire Foundation for the selfless work they do as they care for the firefighters in their community. And I am personally grateful for your interest in the Fire Foundation; it is a valued organization doing important work.
Every hour of every day firefighters of the CSFD are on duty serving neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens without judgement or thought of reward. Every step of the way, the Fire Foundation is working behind the scenes, supporting all that we do. It is a partnership that makes us proud.
Since its inception, the Fire Foundation has raised and contributed thousands of dollars to fund lifesaving equipment such as extrication cutters, used to free people trapped in vehicles after traffic accidents. This equipment enables our firefighters to care for our community with state-of-the-art tools that literally save lives. The foundation has also taken on the monumental task of outfitting our firefighters with ballistic protection by collaborating with another local non-profit, Shield616.
Firefighters are reluctant heroes; not reluctant in the sense of an unwillingness to act, but reluctant to be recognized for the incredible work they do every day. The Fire Foundation actively supports the men and women who keep Colorado Springs safe by funding the annual Awards and Recognition Committee banquet. At this event our firefighters are celebrated for the care, compassion, and courage they demonstrate as they go above and beyond the call of duty.
The Colorado Springs Fire Department is grateful to the members of the Fire Foundation for the selfless work they do as they care for the firefighters in their community. And I am personally grateful for your interest in the Fire Foundation; it is a valued organization doing important work.
Every hour of every day firefighters of the CSFD are on duty serving neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens without judgement or thought of reward. Every step of the way, the Fire Foundation is working behind the scenes, supporting all that we do. It is a partnership that makes us proud.
