THE FIREFIGHTER'S strategy of prevention also is the philosophy behind a program intended to keep young people in Richmond from straying down the wrong path.
The Richmond Fire Youth Academy, sponsored by the Richmond Black Professional Firefighters Association and now in its 13th year, partners department members as mentors and role models with at-risk youths to steer them toward academic achievement, community service and self-discipline.
Weekly classes are supplemented by annual outings to an amusement park, a camping trip and a graduation dinner.
That all costs money, said Fire Capt. Terry Harris, president of the Richmond Black Professional Firefighters Association.
"Our membership knows how important the youth academy is to themselves and the community," Harris said. "We're directing it not only with our hearts, but with our paychecks, too."
But recent cutbacks in the Richmond department, which saw 18 firefighters laid off, have in turn curtailed funding for the program. The association, which puts 80 percent of members' $50 monthly dues toward the academy, lost eight members to the layoffs.
As a result, the academy now serves 30 to 40 young people each year, compared to about 60 to 70 previously. The number of outings also were scaled back.
"You can have the biggest heart in the world, but all those events take money," Harris said. "We want to make sure the program runs at an effective level. If we're writing grants and the grants don't come in we have to fund it some other way."
So firefighters are asking the community to help out in a painless way by having dinner at Chevy's Restaurant at Hilltop on Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. At the "Tip a Firefighter" benefit, Richmond emergency personnel will be hustling for gratuities while waiting, serving and bussing patrons' tables. In addition, the restaurant will donate 20 percent of its profits during the fund-raiser to the academy.
Expected guests already include interim Richmond Fire Chief Michael Banks and City Manager Bill Lindsay.
"It's just going to be fun, and all we need now is for the community to come and have a good meal and have fun," Harris said.
The program already got a boost when Hilltop Mall donated 10 years' worth of coins thrown into its fountain. The coins, contained in six 5-gallon buckets, were cleaned and turned in, yielding $2,741.68, Harris said.
Firefighters have seen firsthand the need to reach out to young people who may not be offered direction anywhere else or even know that opportunities exist.
"It's really easy in Richmond for kids to fall through the cracks," Harris said, "and once that happens it's hard to get them out. Kids not only become victims, but begin victimizing other people."
The group hands out fliers at schools, community centers and churches. Sometimes firefighters pass the word while out in the field on calls. Then they interview the young people and select them for the program.
The program offers classes in firefighting skills and basic life skills. In addition, "We bring in doctors, lawyers, engineers other professionals to discuss what they do and how they achieved their goals," Harris said. "Someone kids can relate to, not necessarily firefighters."
Department personnel back up their commitment by donating their time.
"The firefighters go down and mentor," Harris said. The biggest impact we can have on a kid is ourselves being there."
As proof of its success, one past program participant is now a Richmond firefighter and two are Oakland firefighters. But the point isn't to recruit new fire personnel; it's to point young people in the right direction.
"They're not all going to be firefighters, because that's not going to happen. It won't be possible," Harris said. "We want to push them to be more than we are."
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WHAT: Richmond Firefighters fund-raiser
WHEN: 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Chevys Restaurant, 3101 Garrity Way, Richmond
DETAILS: RichmondFireDepartment.Com
Distributed by the Associated Press