A group of local firefighters who have made it part of their mission to make the season a little brighter for children battling cancer have recently garnered the support of two sports celebrities.
Michael Schofield, an offensive lineman for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, and his wife, Kendall Coyne Schofield, a professional hockey player and 2018 Olympic gold medalist, are giving their support to Project Fire Buddies.
Both athletes are Southland natives.
Project Fire Buddies was started by Oak Forest firefighter and paramedic Kurt DeGroot after an emergency call in December 2016, when he transported a young child with a high fever who was battling cancer.
He wanted to do more for local children going through that battle than just being there during an emergency, so DeGroot reached out to his fellow firefighters and came up with Project Fire Buddies.
Through the program firefighters try to bring cheer to children battling severe illness simply by hanging out with them, playing board games, playing catch or other activities.
During the holidays, firefighters organize a gift drive for the children and try to get others to sponsor families.
“Our goal at Christmastime is to spoil these kids,” DeGroot said. “And to see strangers come out to help it brings tears to your eyes.”
This year, Project Fire Buddies is looking to assist at least eight children and their families with the Christmas drive.
Earlier this year, a Project Fire Buddies drive also collected 373 backpacks filled with school supplies for child students in Oak Forest.
DeGroot said one of his biggest challenges is finding families who could use help and just promoting what Project Fire Buddies does.
“We can’t call hospitals to find kids (because of privacy rules),” he said. “We get a lot of our information through Facebook and social media.”
And DeGroot is learning the Schofields can definitely help with that.
Besides sponsoring three families with Christmas gifts, the famous athletes are also posting about Project Fire Buddies on social media.
DeGroot said one of their posts had reached 16,000 people in four days earlier this month.
“The response has been great, so far,” he said. “Everyday, I get a call from someone else who wants to do something. … We’re just trying to do whatever we can to put a smile on someone’s face.”
DeGroot had connected with the Schofields through Sue Huiner, who has worked in firefighting administration the past 28 years in the area and is involved with the Schofield Family Foundation, which aims to provide funding and support to military families, first responders, youth sports organizations and families in need.
And Michael Schofield’s father, also named Michael Schofield, is the Orland Park fire chief.
Chief Schofield said Project Fire Buddies fits in with the mission of the Schofield Family Foundation.
“They want to give back to the community and help people in need,” Chief Schofield said of his son and daughter-in-law.
He said his son and daughter-in-law plan to visit the Oak Forest fire station some time after the new year.
And Chief Schofield is looking to help expand Project Fire Buddies.
“We’re working with Kurt to expand the project to the entire region with local firefighters,” he said. “He’s put a lot of time and energy into it. We’re trying to find kids all over.”
DeGroot said he’s in the process of obtaining 501(c)3 status from the IRS for Project Fire Buddies and is working to create a website.
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