Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when Firehouse Subs Founders Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen traveled to Mississippi where they provided food to first responders and survivors. As they returned home, they knew they could do more and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born, with the mission of providing funding, lifesaving equipment and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations. Since its inception, the non-profit organization has granted more than $35 million to hometown heroes in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
Enjoy More Subs. Save More Lives.[edit]
The Firehouse Public Safety Foundation is dedicated to providing lifesaving equipment and needed resources to first responders and public safety organizations. The reach and mission of the Foundation is truly national in scope with first responders and public safety organizations from Jacksonville to Seattle – more than 3,300 organizations receiving much-needed grant awards.
The Foundation was launched in 2005 after Firehouse Subs Founders and brothers, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, personally witnessed the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. Inspired by their experiences in Pearlington, Miss., coupled with a strong family history of firefighting, including their father – Rob Sorensen, a 43-year retired fire captain – Chris and Robin personally understood how public safety organizations throughout the nation are lacking the tools needed to adequately protect their communities.
Since inception, the Foundation has given more than $35 million to hometown heroes in 47 states and Puerto Rico and Canada. The Foundation is a registered GuideStar Platinum charity[1] and has received four stars from Charity Navigator. [2]
Saving Lives with Pickle Buckets[edit]
Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon pickle buckets, available to guests for a $2 donation to the Foundation. Donation canisters on register counters explain the non-profit’s mission and collect spare change, while the Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar. All funds raised benefit the Foundation. The Foundation is also the beneficiary of a Charitable Sales Promotion where Firehouse of America (FOA) will donate to the Foundation a sum equivalent to 0.13% of all gross sales with a minimum donation of $1,000,000 through December 31, 2018.
The Foundation celebrates its largest annual fundraiser, Public Safety Month, each October. Guests are invited to support the initiative by visiting their local Firehouse Subs restaurant and donating $1, $5 or $25 for a paper medallion placed in restaurants, which patrons sign to create a mural of support for those who serve the community. Proceeds benefit the Foundation.
Testimonies showcasing the Foundation’s impact stretch far and wide, from the story of South Daytona Fire Department in Florida using awarded extrication equipment to save a car crash victim just six days after the equipment was delivered, to Sgt. Schmittou from Northville Township Police Department in Michigan using a granted automated external defibrillator (AED) on the first emergency call of his career to save a man in sudden cardiac arrest. The Foundation’s impact is also evident in natural disaster response, as was witnessed during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 when a rescue boat delivered weeks before the storm made landfall and aided in the successful recovery of more than 200 stranded civilians. Inspiring stories are oftentimes shared on the Foundation’s website, as well as YouTube channel, helping guests see firsthand how their small contributions actually help save lives.
In addition to disaster relief, scholarships, public safety prevention education and military support, raised funds are used for purchasing crucial emergency response equipment such as thermal imaging cameras, which can detect hot spots and heat given off by people that may be trapped in a burning building, allowing firefighters to accurately locate victims through the heavy smoke.
In addition, the Foundation has granted:
- Extrication tools
- Automated external defibrillators (AEDs)
- All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) with rescue and wildfire suppression capabilities
- Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors
- Fire extinguisher training systems
- Bunker gear
- K-9 units
- Bulletproof vests
Connect[edit]
Visit the Foundation's Facebook page and YouTube Channel for more information, and learn about the Foundation's lifesaving stories on the website.
References[edit]
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