Relief Association News & Events
Relief Association members give over $30,000.00 in 2009
SDFRA and Local 145 travel together to Colorado Springs to honor fallen San Diego Firefighters
In April 2009, San Diego Fireman's Relief Association launched a new firefighter fundraiser called
The Forty Dollar Challenge. With an ambitious goal of $50,000 dollars and a budget of less than $2,000, the goal of the campaign was to raise money to improve access to healthcare for pre-1980s retirees.
The Forty Dollar Challenge was promoted in Relief Association newsletters, station bulletins, on our 
web site, and in our office. A large poster displaying the prizes, monthly winners, and the progress of the campaign announced the program to visiting members, who graciously opened their wallets to support their fellow firefighters. The first charity sweepstakes coordinated by SDFRA, the program asked for a small donation of at least $40 in exchange for the chance to win prizes, including our signature red out-of-county duffle bag and the grand prize, a big-screen high definition TV generously donated by Sears Essentials of Mission Valley.
It didn't take long for the word to spread! Our members began giving even before the official launch of the program and within just a couple of months, we had raised more than $10,000!
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April's winner, retired Fire Marshall Kate Willis.
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"The Forty Dollar Challenge is an innovative way to inspire our members to support their own," says SDFRA Board President Dan Faddis.
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May 2009 winner Russ Simon poses with his prize, the Relief Association signature red duffle.
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"Our members give without the incentive of prizes, but the duffles and the grand prize created a sense of excitement that motivated people to give even more."
The program was so effective, in fact, that it helped Relief Association members donate more in the 6 months of the campaign than any prior year in the history of the association- more than $30,000.00.
Donations continued to trickle in from active and retired membership. "A week didn't go by without at least a few donations," said Jerry Burkey, Director of Operations for the Relief Association. "It was very encouraging to see our members rally around an important and ongoing cause."
Members gathered around President Dan Faddis at the 2009 SDFRA Holiday Party as he drew the grand prize winner's name from a hat- retired firefighter Joseph Clifford. Joe was not in attendance, but came in the following week to pickup his prize.
"The Forty Dollar Challenge really brought out some of the best in our members," said Dan. Several members became ambassadors for the campaign, not only giving themselves but motivating their peers to become donors also. Member Kenny Key was especially tireless, knocking on doors and making phone calls to get as much support from other retirees as possible. Another retired member, Mike Smith, made a donation every month in honor of a fallen firefighter. Every donation he made was accompanied by a special tribute to a friend and colleague he had known. And Mike Roberts gave more than $4000.00 through his company, Carinet Inc. While the goal of 50K was not reached this year, all in all, it was a very successful first run. 
Proceeds from the $40 Challenge went to the Relief Association's program Aging Heroes, which supports elderly retired firefighters without adequate access to healthcare. 
"These firefighters gave decades of service to our community and, unfortunately, despite that service, do not receive adequate healthcare coverage," says Dan Faddis.
"When these firefighters served, they did not enjoy the modern safety equipment and protections we do now. As a result, many of them have died, and many more suffer from health problems related to their service. They need healthcare, and Aging Heroes helps fill in the gaps for them."
Dan acknowledges that the latest generation of firefighters, those hired after 2005, will be worse-off, in some ways, than those elderly retirees. "As it stands now, the younger men and women on the job will not even receive the inadequate health benefits our current retirees have," he said. "They will not receive any retiree healthcare coverage, and campaigns like The Forty Dollar Challenge will be more necessary than ever."
"We have to start preparing now," said Jerry Burkey. "These firefighters are young and healthy now, but in 10 years, in 20 or 30 years, when the need is there, it'll be too late to respond. The time to begin planning for them is now."
The Relief Association will coordinate the $40 Challenge on an annual basis, making it SDFRA's premier internal fundraiser. The 2010 Challenge is set to launch in May. Stay tuned for more information on this year's prizes! And thank you to all the members, families, and friends who donated to the campaign last year. Let's reach our goal this year and make it the best ever!
The 2009 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Service was held on Saturday, September 19, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Board members of SDFRA, San Diego Firefighters Local 145, and Fire Chief Javier Mainar attended the ceremonies.
The mission of the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, which is located in the shadow of Pike’s Peak, is to honor the sacrifice made by IAFF members who serve as professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who have given their lives in the line of duty.
Since its creation in 1976 through June 2009, the names of 2,274 fallen IAFF members have been engraved into the wall of honor located behind the memorial.
The IAFF ensures that the ceremony remains an uplifting one for the families, friends and loved ones, and that it celebrates the lives, heroism and accomplishments of our union’s bravest of the brave. 
At this year's ceremonies, 5 San Diego firefighters were honored by having their names added to the wall.
"It was important that we honor our fallen brothers at this event," said George Duardo, Secretary Treasurer of San Diego Fireman's Relief Association. "Our hope is to ultimately bring the families of these fallen heroes to the memorial so they may be present at the ceremonies in future years."
The names of 5 San Diego firefighters were placed on the wall of honor this year: Steven F. Holladay, DOD 4/26/1995;
Charles D. Marshall, DOD 4/8/1999; Harry R. Butler, DOD 3/3/2001; Robert "Bud" Larimer, DOD 10/15/2002; and Kenneth Rice, DOD 12/11/2005. Joseph J. Estavillo's name will be added to the Wall of Honor during the 2010 observance, which takes place on September 11, 2010.
IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger gave his remarks to those in attendance. His message was warm, poignant, and moving. "For you, their family," he offered to the families of the fallen, " we close our hands on yours, put our arms on your shoulders, embrace you and remember the wonderful stories and times of our fallen with you. We give you a piece of this union in symbol and spirit."
The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation was founded in 1976 to recognize and honor past and future professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who are killed in the line of duty and to provide funds and assistance to the surviving spouses and children of those members. In 1986, the IAFF and the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation completed a permanent tribute to its members, the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The centerpiece of the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial is a bronze likeness of a fire fighter descending a ladder while cradling an infant in one arm. Towering 20 feet above the park’s surface, “Somewhere, Everyday” epitomizes the courage and bravery displayed daily by 
professional fire fighters across the continent. In 1989, the IAFF erected the first of two granite walls to bear the names of fallen IAFF members. The names of brothers and sisters killed in the line of duty have been etched here since. Although thousands have died throughout our union’s history, the names on this wall date back only through 1976, when the U.S. federal government first began tracking line-of-duty deaths in the fire service.
Additional upgrades over the final years of the 20th century transformed this tribute to our fallen family members into a memorial of international stature. Paving stone, monument lighting, flag standards and walkways now beautify this hallowed place, creating an atmosphere of dignity and reverence for all who visit. As the original wall has filled to near capacity with names of fallen heroes, a second wall was erected just a few steps from the original wall of honor. In a ceremony fraught with irony, this new memorial wall was 
dedicated on September 15, 2001, four days after terrorist attacks claimed 347 of our New York City brothers. The Memorial Foundation has plans to add to the memorial sites all the names of professional fire fighters and emergency medical personnel who have died since the founding of the IAFF in 1918.
Each September, the IAFF conducts a solemn ceremonial service at the Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial and Wall of Honor to honor the sacrifice made by professional fire fighters and paramedics who have given their lives in the line of duty during the previous year.
The IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial Foundation is governed by an eight-member Board of Directors and is chaired by IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger. Its offices are located at the IAFF headquarters in Washington, DC.
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