NEW YORK, NY – Amboy, Illinois based Vanguard Safety Wear and Dinges Fire Company yet again made the trek to New York, New York to present a sizeable check to the family of fallen FDNY 9/11 Firefighter Michael Kiefer. On June 21, Vanguard Safety Wear and its sister company Dinges Fire Company presented a $25,000 and $2,500 checks to the Michael Kiefer Fund, benefiting the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation and the NY Firefighter Burn Center. This is the third year both businesses have donated to the fund totaling $38,500.
More than 20 years ago, on September 11th, 2001, the World Trade Center in New York City was viciously attacked by a hateful foreign enemy. That day the Kiefer family lost its only son and brother, 25 year old FDNY FF Michael Kiefer, who was assigned to Ladder 132 in Brooklyn, New York. To help celebrate Michael’s life and keep his memory alive, his family created the FDNY FF Michael Kiefer Fund with a goal to continue to help others the way Michael would if he was still here.
Vanguard Safety Wear and the Dinges Fire Company’s donations will go directly towards purchasing a transport van, in Michael’s name, that will carry sick and injured FDNY firefighters to doctor’s appointments.
“I am forever grateful for the generosity of Dinges Fire Company and Vanguard Safety Wear for its donations and for always remembering Michael,” said Michael’s Sister Kerri Kiefer-Viverito. “From a very young age Michael always wanted to pass by the firehouse and then one day his dream came true. Dinges Fire Co. and Vanguard Safety Wear’s donation truly makes me feel so proud to be Michael’s sister. I know what an amazing person Michael was, but when I see others realizing that and continuing to honor his legacy, it makes me smile.”
“For Vanguard Safety Wear, the effort is particularly personal as Michael’s brother-in-law is a friend of mine and currently an FDNY member,” said Vanguard Safety Wear President Andy Shapiro. “I, myself was in Manhattan on 9/11 while tragically, mine and other surrounding suburban communities suffered many victims on that day. So, while the memories of 9/11 will no doubt remain vivid in our minds, we strive to maintain the awareness for others and continue to honor the memory of the thousands that perished that day and particularly the truly heroic first responders.
Each pair of Vanguard Safety Wear firefighting gloves bears the initials “MK,” keeping Michael’s name alive in the fire service serving as a reminder to “Never Forget.”
“We couldn’t be prouder and more honored to present a check to Kerri and her family in Michael’s name,” said Dinges Fire Company CEO Nick Dinges. “As a firefighter myself, I always think about that awful day on September 11 and the sacrifices so many firefighter’s and service men and women made on that day. Our donation to the Michael Kiefer Fund is the least we can do to simply say thank you.”
To learn more about the Michael Kiefer Fund and to make a donation, visit www.fdnyffmichaelkieferfund.com.
ABOUT DINGES FIRE COMPANY
The Dinges Fire Company is the leading distributor of Fire, Rescue and EMS Equipment in the Midwest with over 110+ Team Members operating in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Our mission is to protect our Nation’s First Responders with high-quality products while providing unmatched customer service after the sale through a staff of highly educated team members supported by great technology. Dinges Fire Company is a “Firefighter Owned and Operated Family Business” founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Amboy, Illinois. For more information on the Dinges Fire Company, visit www.DingesFire.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram.
ABOUT VANGUARD SAFETY WEAR
After years of using products that could not withstand the torture handed out by today’s fire service professionals while also providing top level performance, three leaders in the fire service industry set out on a mission to advance the particularly challenging hand protection category. Combining with a street level urban firefighter, a textile/apparel veteran and an experienced fire service equipment distributor; Vanguard Safety Wear was born to bring to the field the continuous improvement of firefighting and extrication gloves. The Vanguard Safety Wear team combines all the crucial expertise needed to design/develop, field test, produce and ultimately improve personal protective equipment in order to provide unparalleled products for the demanding tasks of firefighting and rescue services. For more information on Vanguard Safety Wear, visit vanguardsafetywear.com.
