Scuttlebutt 6/21

REV Group Grand Prix Honors First Responders

REV Group Inc. teamed up with Road America to pay tribute to first responders by offering free entry to the NTT IndyCar Series REV Group Grand Prix, which will take place from June 17–20, 2021.

All first responders, including firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and law enforcement officers, who show valid identification that indicates active service will receive free entry at Road America race track and grounds in Elkhart Lake, WI, and be treated to a packed weekend of activities, including the REV Group Grand Prix feature race, which will be run on June 20.

In addition, first responders may pick up a commemorative baseball cap at the REV Group Fire & Emergency Vehicle Showcase near Victory Lane.

For more information, visit revgroupgp.com.

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CSU Scholarship

Columbia Southern University (CSU) will grant one scholarship to the spouse, life partner or dependent of a firefighter who is honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. The scholarship will cover as many as 60 credit hours toward one online degree program of the recipient’s choice at CSU.

CSU offers two options for their classes: Term and LifePace Learning. Term classes are more structured, with classes that last eight weeks and assignments that have specific due dates. The LifePace Learning system is more flexible: It lacks due dates, and students work through classes at their own pace, finishing the classes in 4–10 weeks. A new term starts almost every month of the year, and students can start their LifePace Learning at any time.

The scholarship period runs through Oct. 2, 2021.

For more information, visit firehero.org or columbiasouthern.edu.

TFT Pledges Support to Burn Victims

Task Force Tips (TFT) committed to a significant, multiyear sponsorship to bolster the important work of Hoosier Burn Camp (HBC) to improve the lives of young burn survivors and their families. HBC provides year-round, life-changing programs for burn survivors free of charge, including a weeklong summer camp near Lafayette, IN. The partnership is a natural fit for TFT, which was founded on the legacy of firefighter Clyde McMillian, who was burned severely in the line of duty.

TFT will work with HBC to multiply the efforts of fundraising and hands-on philanthropy to serve more burn survivors than ever, according to TFT CEO Chris Vazzana.

For more information, visit tft.com.

NVFC Partners with Josh Cellars Wine

The Josh Cellars brand is partnering with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to recognize volunteer firefighters by producing a limited-edition, NVFC-branded bottle of Reserve Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon. For every bottle that’s sold, Josh Cellars will donate one dollar to the NVFC (up to $150,000) for initiatives that support volunteer firefighters.

For Joseph Carr, who is the founder of Josh Cellars, the volunteer fire service is a cause that’s close to his heart. Josh Cellars wine was created by Carr as a tribute to his father, who was a volunteer firefighter as well as a U.S. Army veteran.

The Josh Cellars Reserve Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon will be available for purchase nationwide through Aug. 31, 2021, in local retail stores across the United States.

For more information, visit nvfc.org.

Benjamin Franklin Writer’s Awards

The National Fire Heritage Center (NFHC) Benjamin Franklin Fire Writer’s Award was established to recognize current and past authors of books, magazines, newsletters and a variety of media who have preserved America’s fire service history through their writings.

Benjamin Franklin, who is recognized as the “father” of the fire service in the United States, left a vast legacy of written products. He encouraged writers to “go on record” as to their beliefs, observations, and support of public and private initiatives. Through the Benjamin Franklin Fire Writer’s Award, the NFHC encourages today’s fire writers to do the same. The 2021 winners of the award are:

Gold: Bill Killen, who is the author of “The History of the Apollo and Skylab Astronaut Rescue Team”; and Gregory Noll and Michael Hildebrand, who co-authored “Hazardous Materials: Managing the Incident.”

Silver: Sherrie Wilson, who was the first female firefighter in the Dallas Fire Department, for authoring “Faith on Fire”; Anton Riecher, who is the co-author of “Disasters Man-Made”; and David E. Hedrick, who is the author of the University of Missouri FRTI 2017 Fire Service Training Survey Report.

Bronze: Bill Killen, for three entries—“Firefighting with Henry’s Model T”, the Model T Times newsletter and “Hallock Chemical Fire Engine”; and John Townsend, who is the author of the Focus on Hazmat column in Industrial Fire World magazine.

For more, visit fireheritageusa.org.

NFFF Debuts Thin Red Line Debit Card

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) partnered with Langley Federal Credit Union to support firefighters and EMS heroes throughout the nation. Every purchase that’s made with the new Thin Red Line Debit Card will trigger a monthly donation from Langley to the NFFF.

The card, which features the honorable thin red stripe that’s recognizable by firefighters and EMS members, is equipped with contactless technology and 24/7 fraud protection for all online and in-store purchases. Also part of the event: Family members and friends can open a Thin Red Line Checking account.

For more information, visit firehero.org or ThinRedLineBanking.com.