While out shopping for necessities over the last few weeks, Luke Steiner made an observation. He noticed that many people were not following the new social guidelines to stay 6 feet apart. Even in stores that were attempting to make it easy, it was obvious to Luke it was not getting done. Luke was shopping at Trader Joes where only 35 people are allowed in the store at a time. “I was doing my best to stay away from people, but others were not following the guidelines to stay 6 feet apart like you think everyone would,” Luke said.
Bellevue Fire Department COVID-19 Has Changed Things
From Temperatures, to Drive-by Birthday Celebrations, COVID-19 has changed things for the Bellevue Fire Department.
(As of Sun. April 5th the Bellevue Fire Department has transported one person who has tested positive for COVID-19.)
Shari Lentsch is proud of the way the personnel at the Bellevue Fire Department (BFD) are all working together during these unprecedented times. As first responders deal with COVID-19 in the Bellevue area, Shari who is the Supervisor of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the BFD, knows that they are positively impacting public safety response, and utilizing containment and mitigation initiatives.
Continue reading “Bellevue Fire Department COVID-19 Has Changed Things”
Hand Sanitizer brings Patriarch Distillers & the First Responders Foundation Together
Patriarch Distillers Inc. is distributing hand sanitizers for first responders and health care workers in
cooperation with the First Responders Foundation.
Patriarch Distillers/Soldier Valley Spirits is a small craft distillery that has changed production over from spirit-based consumables to a hand sanitizer during the pandemic. They hope the hand cleaning application will help slow down the COVID- 19 virus.
First Responders and the Coronavirus
At this time of crisis in our country, we are in a fight where the battlefield is in our own backyards and communities and first responders are on the frontlines, defending all of us.
Donate now to make a difference for local first responders, as your generous donation will support our key programs aimed at mental, emotional, and physical well-being for our first responders and their families. As we seek to distance ourselves from one another by staying home, canceling events and school, first responders are selflessly exposing themselves to danger and risk of exposure and contraction of COVID- 19, nobly going into harm’s way on our behalf.
Announcing the First Responders Foundation Council Bluffs Chapter
A New Chapter……
The First Responders Foundation is proud to announce the first chapter of the Foundation, First Responders Foundation Council Bluffs Chapter! The new chapter was announced this morning at a Press Conference at the Council Bluffs Police Department. Speakers included Jim Hanson, the Foundation Chairman, Leria Bray Council Bluffs Chapter Chairman, Council Bluffs Police Chief Tim Carmody, and Council Bluffs Fire Department Chief Justin James. This partnership will give the Council Bluffs Chapter access to all the programs, events and activities of the Foundation. The Council Bluffs Chapter will hold independent programs and activities unique to the Council Bluffs area.
The Chapter will apply for grants and hold fundraising events and the monies will be used exclusively for Council Bluffs. We wish the Council Bluffs Chapter all the best. This partnership helps to make serving first responders more efficient and expands the reach to first responders and families served and helps fulfill the mission of the Foundation. Council Bluffs Board Members are:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors Leria Bray
- Real Estate Professional with NP Dodge Secretary Vince Rew
- Dir. of Marketing and PR at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital
- Treasurer James Watson, Attorney, Law Firm Watson, and Ryan, PLC.
- Board member Mick McKinley
- Ex-Officio members CBPD Captain Scott Milner
- CBFD Assistant Chief Chris Sorensen
Continue reading “Announcing the First Responders Foundation Council Bluffs Chapter”
Disrespect for Police Officers is Putting Our Country in Danger – William Barr
The rising disrespect for police officers in our country not only puts them in danger but is putting our county in danger. As U.S. Attorney General William Barr states in his recent article in the New York Post, serving as a cop in America is harder than ever. Those who put their lives on the line each and every day for us are being ambushed and executed while on duty. It is hurting officer retention and causing a drop in officer application across the country. Attorney General Barr names Sgt. Christopher Brewster from the Houston Police Department in his article. This hits close to home as Sgt. Brewster’s wife is the niece of an Omaha police detective and a sergeant. Sgt. Brewster was responding to a domestic situation when he was shot and killed.
Continue reading “Disrespect for Police Officers is Putting Our Country in Danger – William Barr”
JAVELAN & First Responders Foundation Merger
The First Responders Foundation is excited to announce the partnership and merger with JAVELAN. JAVELAN “Service Dogs for HEROES” provides funding, for service dog training, to first responders and veterans.
The program is unique, as when possible, the dogs are rescue dogs, and also the first responder/veteran helps to train the dog. This successful program is a great fit with the programing of the First Responders Foundation and the goal of helping first responders and their families.
For more information visit firstrespondersfoundation.org/javelan/. To apply for a service dog or for more information about the application process please contact Javelan at info@javelan.org.
2019 Awards of Excellence Recipients Announced
The First Responders Foundation is proud and excited to announce the recipients of the 2019 “Awards of Excellence”. These awards are meant to recognize children of our First Responders who are high school seniors and have demonstrated good character and balanced achievements in their lives. We congratulate all the recipients.
Awards of Excellence Scholarships were made possible thanks to the following donors who fully-funded one or more of the awards: Farmers Insurance, Jim Killips, Carol Stolp, Mary Rosenthal, Ray Somberg, Terry Headley, Tom Holland, Keith Basham, Susan Wier, Chuck Sederstrom, Al & Teri Batschelet.
The Awards of Excellence Reception was supported by Nelson Murphy Insurance and Investments and Farmers Insurance.
Police Recipients
- Jayden Anderson – Millard South High School
- Joseph Barrios – Home Schooled
- Callie Billings – Gross Catholic High School
- Eli Bogdanoff – Blair High School
- Logan Fornoff – Glenwood High School
- Kaylee Flynn – Millard North High School
- Joshua Herout – Concordia Jr./Sr. High School
- Kiya Hudson – Millard North High School
- Michael Kelly – Elkhorn South High School
- Leah Millikan – Logan-Magnolia High School
- Grant Oseka – Papillion LaVista South High School
- Matthew Perl – Papillion LaVista South High School
- Connor Smith – Westside High School
- Kylie Tierney – Missouri Valley High School
Fire Recipients
- Thomas Ahl – Louisville High School
- Ethan Bernard – St. Albert High School
- Alexis Buesing – Millard West High School
- Garrison Dodge – Oakland-Craig High School
- Tyson Guzman – Westside High School
- Paige Holdsworth – Millard North High School
- Colton Mallory – Fort Calhoun High School
- Chaylea Mandina – Gretna High School
- Camryn McLaughlin – Lincoln Southwest High School
- Brad Noble – Papillion LaVista High School
- Tate Patera – Platteview High School
- Bethany Stratton – Yutan High School
- Katherine Swan – Elkhorn High School
- Maximus Wold – Bellevue East High School
Recipients: remember to tell your school about your award so it can be included alongside other scholarship announcements!
We appreciate the hard work and dedication exhibited by all applicants and wish everyone continued success in all future endeavors.
Awards of Excellence Scholarships were made possible thanks to the following donors who fully-funded one or more of the awards: Farmers Insurance, Jim Killips, Carol Stolp, Mary Rosenthal, Ray Somberg, Terry Headley, Tom Holland, Keith Basham, Susan Wier, Chuck Sederstrom, Al & Teri Batschelet.
The Awards of Excellence Reception was supported by Nelson Murphy Insurance and Investments and Farmers Insurance
2018 Awards of Excellence Recipients Announced
We are proud and excited to announce the recipients of the 2018 Awards of Excellence, which go to high school seniors who are children of our First Responders and have demonstrated commitment to community.
These Awards of Excellence were made possible by our Boosters.
Police Recipients
- Izabela Gonzalez, Skutt Catholic High School
- Kacie Shields, Millard West High School
- Kayle Byrd, Bellevue West High School
- Reed Fitzke, Fremont High School
- Sierra Morris, Elkhorn South High School
Fire Recipients
- Ashlyn Dippel, Fort Calhoun High School
- Daniel Kirchofer, Creighton Preparatory
- Delaney Doyle, Bellevue West High School
- Holly Komenda, Raymond Central High School
- Josie Andersen, Papillion La Vista High School
We appreciate the hard work and dedication exhibited by all applicants and wish everyone continued success in all future endeavors.
My Pie Pizza Donates $507 to First Responders Foundation from Grand Opening Weekend
As part the opening of their second location in Aksarben Center, My Pie Pizza vowed to donate 20% of all sales from Saturday, January 26th through Sunday, January 27th back to the First Responders Foundation.
“We didn’t get the best Omaha winter weather the week we opened, but we made the most of it that weekend. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to give back to the First Responders Foundation in whatever way possible,” said Blair Horner, Owner of My Pie Pizza.
Horner, and his daughter Anna Horner, General Manager, presented us with a check for $507 from the event.
“We are honored that My Pie Pizza chose the First Responders Foundation to partner with for their Grand Opening. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the future,” said Al Batschelet, President and CEO.
