G-P's Bucket Brigade Program Awards $165,000 in Grants to Needy Fire Departments
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Georgia-Pacific, Atlanta, Ga., USA, reports that its Bucket Brigade grant program has recently awarded $165,000 in grants to 25 U.S. fire departments to purchase equipment necessary to protect lives and property of residents, and keep firefighters safe. The grants are aimed particularly at helping departments that lack funds to purchase specialized gear and replace outdated equipment.
"We have tremendous respect and appreciation for firefighters who put themselves in harm's way to keep our communities safe," said Jim Hannan, CEO and president of G-P. "The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade program is dedicated to helping local fire departments with the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively."
Since 2006, the Bucket Brigade program has supported local fire departments in Georgia-Pacific facility communities through more than $1 million in grants, safety education materials for schools, and memberships for all grant applicants to the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC). The program is meeting critical needs particularly for fire departments in small and rural communities with a large volunteer base. In fact, of the one million firefighters in the U.S., 70% are volunteers, according to the NVFC.
"Safety is a top priority of the NVFC, and the Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade program enables resource-constrained fire departments to purchase needed gear and equipment to protect their first responders," said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. "Finding funding is a constant struggle for volunteer departments. Georgia-Pacific is a terrific example of a company giving back to the community by supporting the local fire/EMS departments that protect its facilities and employees."
This year, fire departments across 15 states were selected, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Washington, and Wisconsin. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $10,000 and were awarded based on critical need to ensure firefighter safety and proximity to a Georgia-Pacific facility.
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