Noelle, Awards of Excellence Recipient, Follows Her Firefighter Father’s Example

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We congratulate Noelle Philippi for being selected as a First Responders Foundation Awards of Excellence 2020 recipients.  Noelle is graduating from Ralston High School. 

The Awards of Excellence are presented to children of first responders who demonstrate a commitment to the community and volunteerism, have good character, and balanced achievements in their lives.

Below is part of an essay that Noelle submitted for the award.

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Trucking Hand Sanitizer Across Nebraska

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Make a needed product and give it to those in need? Sounds easy, right?

Below you will find more information and the helping hands in Trucking Hand Sanitizer Across Nebraska.

(Update as of May 14th.  All requests for hand sanitizer are now going direct to Patriarch Distillers.  Please email David at dyoung@svspirits.com )

David Young and Jeff Hadden Patriarch DistillersJeff Hadden, Founder and President, and David M. Young, VP of Strategy and Spirits Evangelist, from Patriarch Distillers/Soldier Valley 6, in LaVista, NE, just wanted to help out during the pandemic and produce hand sanitizer for those who were working so hard to keep our community safe. They made the decision to stop producing spirits at their business and begin making hand sanitizer full time.

Things started out fine, but as the need grew, David and Jeff were inundated with phone calls, emails, and even in-person visits to their facility for hand sanitizer. They needed some help. “Our project for good had become overwhelming,” said Jeff.

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The Distance Project

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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.

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Bellevue Fire Department COVID-19 Has Changed Things

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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.

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Hand Sanitizer brings Patriarch Distillers & the First Responders Foundation Together

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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.

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First Responders and the Coronavirus

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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.

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Announcing the First Responders Foundation Council Bluffs Chapter

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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

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Disrespect for Police Officers is Putting Our Country in Danger – William Barr

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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.
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JAVELAN & First Responders Foundation Merger

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JAVELAN & First Responders Foundation MergerThe 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

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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

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May 17, 2020

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