SMITHFIELD, RI, April 23, 2009 - At a time when many families of fallen firefighters are suffering job losses and hard times, Sperian Fire has announced a unique program to boost support for these families. Sperian is donating a combined $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation in a grassroots effort to increase awareness and support for these foundations. It is the largest charitable donation in Sperian Fires history.
"Even with the economy down, we cant desert the people who protect us all," said Bill Sokol, Vice President Marketing for Sperian Fire. "At Sperian we decided to take the money we normally spend to ship, assemble, dismantle and return our large FDIC exhibit booth -- roughly $100,000 US -- and use it for a donation to help the families of fallen heroes."
In a unique twist, the donation will not be made in Sperian Fires name, but rather in the names of any US and Canadian firefighters who take a moment to sign the donation registry at www.sperianfire.com. Registrants have an opportunity to offer a few words of encouragement or make their donations in memory of individual fallen comrades.
Beginning at the FDIC show on April 23 and continuing through June 30, Sperian Fire will be collecting names from participating members of the firefighting community to present with the final donation checks to the two organizations. The donor names will not be used for any sales purpose.
"We felt this was a great opportunity to help firefighters get personally involved in showing their support for this important cause without actually asking them for a donation," Sokol said. "Instead, were putting up the money to give in their names."
As Sokol spoke, firefighters were lining up at the Sperian Fire booth (#2112) to sign the registry. Without its usual imposing booth structure, the Sperian Fire exhibit itself was a simple affair. That was all right with Sokol, who said the families of fallen firefighters need help a lot more than Sperian Fire needs its exhibit booth this year.
"This is a wonderful, thoughtful, and very much appreciated effort," said Chief Ronald Siarnicki, Executive Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, as he registered to make his donation in honor of "some fallen friends who will always remain in my thoughts and prayers."
"I cant remember ever receiving so much support," added Captain Robert Kirkpatrick of Mississauga, Ontario, President of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation. "Every fighter should go to the Sperian Fire site and register. We in the firefighting community need to show our support for companies willing to help us. It will take less than two minutes to show that support."
"Were very excited about this on-line donation program," said Anne Chambers, Channel Manager for Sperian Fire. "We hope to build a grassroots, word-of-mouth campaign that directly engages firefighters and raises greater awareness and support for the fallen firefighter foundations."
After the Sperian Fallen Firefighters Program concludes June 30, donation checks will be presented at ceremonies in July.
You can learn more about the donation and check on the latest news about Sperian and the Fallen Firefighters Foundation at www.sperianfire.com.
About Sperian Fire
Sperian Fire offers high performance respiratory gear, action ready protective apparel, and instrumentation for firefighting and emergency services. Well-known products include the Warrior SCBA, Sperian UltraMotion and Vectra SL turnout gear, the Sperian Pathfinder, and the Biosystems PosiChek3 SCB Test Bench.
About Sperian Protection
Sperian Fire is a division of Sperian Protection. With nearly 6,000 employees worldwide, Sperian Protection (formerly Bacou-Dalloz) is the worlds leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment. Sperian's expertise focuses on head, body and fall protection products including; hearing, eye and respiratory protection, protective apparel, safety harnesses, belts, anchors and fall prevention systems.
