Strong relationships between police and the community are crucial to maintaining and enhancing public safety. Police departments and the community work together to solve crimes, increase safety and strengthen the community. In order for the police and community to effectively communicate, there must be intentional efforts to build trust and collaborate.
Deputy Tony Ramaeker – Scheels Home Town Hero
Congratulations to Deputy Tony Ramaeker! Scheels and American Heroes Outdoors have teamed up to capture and share stories of real heroes living in local communities. Officer Tony Ramaeker is a first responder at the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and is a local metro area hero. The First Responders Foundation is proud to announce that Deputy Ramaeker was recently named a Scheels Home Town Hero and was honored at the Scheels store at Village Pointe in Omaha on March 31st.
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Mary Ann O’Brien joins the FRF Board of Directors
The First Responders Foundation is delighted to welcome Mary Ann O’Brien to its Board of Directors. Mary Ann is the CEO and Founder of OBI Creative – an internationally recognized research, strategic communications, and advertising agency with offices in Omaha, Des Moines, and San Diego.
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Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors Save Lives!
If you’ve ever wondered how important smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are in homes, here are some life-saving examples. These are devices we most often take for granted.
Francisco and Fidela needed a combination smoke and carbon monoxide detector. They reached out to their son, Captain Lara of the Omaha Fire Department. They fit the criteria for eligibility to receive the detector from the First Responders Foundation and the Omaha Fire Department by owning their home and being physically or financially unable to provide it themselves. The Omaha Fire Department made a visit to their home and installed the detector in their living room.
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New Board Treasurer, Mike Corrigan
The First Responders Foundation welcomes Mike Corrigan, to the Board of Directors, as the new treasurer of the board. Mike is the VP Commercial Relationship Manager with Access Bank. Mike has been with Access for five years and works with new and existing commercial businesses. The Foundation has been banking with Access for more than a year and finds them extremely helpful and engaging. The Foundation is pleased to have Mike’s expertise on the board and looks forward to working with him for more than one reason. Mike is uniquely qualified for this position because not only does he bring financial expertise to the board, he is also a first responder.
Awards of Excellence Recipients Connor and Tony Rinn
Meet Awards of Excellence winners, Connor and Tony Rinn. These brothers are students at Midland University in Fremont, NE. Tony is pursuing a degree in Secondary Education and Connor is majoring in Criminal Justice
The Awards of Excellence are given to high school seniors who demonstrate good character, balanced achievement, and outstanding commitment to the community. These students are also children of local first responders. The Rinn brothers’ father, Bill Rinn is a Captain with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
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Twenty Impacts in 2020
We thank the private citizens, the organization, and the businesses who have supported the Foundation this year making it possible to make a difference in the lives of first responders and their families.
Without Guns and Hoses and our Annual 9/11 Luncheon of Honor, our yearly fundraising events, this year has been particularly difficult as it has been for many social impact organizations. Your support has been and is now appreciated more than you will ever know, and allow us to continue our vital programming.
FRST Suicide Prevention Training
Co-Director of the FRST Team, clinician Stephanie Levy, shares how the First Responders Foundation has been working with local first responders over the last year and a half, how barriers are being broken, and how progress is being made to help prevent suicide in this demographic.
Unfortunately, first responders are statistically more apt to die by suicide than on the job, or in the line of duty.
Hannah and the Tri-County Fire Corps
Hello, my name is Hannah. I am currently enrolled at Metro Community College working towards a Fire Science degree.
About two years ago I took a career academy through MCC for Fire Science. During the academy I learned about the Tri-County Fire Explorers program. My instructors at MCC told me being involved in the program was a great opportunity. At that time I did not know for sure if I wanted to be a firefighter. I knew the program would allow me to get my foot in the door and I knew I would learn a lot.
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Suz and Ginger
“Ginger gave me my life back” was how Suz explained her relationship with her service dog.
Suz knew that something had to change. She was not doing activities that she loved. She was not enjoying life. And then came to Ginger!
Suz joined the Navy after college. She started with the reserves, and then joined the Navy and attended Bootcamp in Orlando, FL. She was stationed in San Diego, CA. One night while she was on duty she was bitten by a black widow. Unfortunately, the bite was misdiagnosed and treated as a cactus prick, and the venom from the black widow went through her system.
Suz spent two years in the hospital, had twelve surgeries, and multiple times doctors thought they would have to take her leg. Fortunately, her leg was saved. She still gets steroid shots and has residual pain but she has full use of her leg.
