Laura McCloud Mathers, founder, president and CEO of the Bellevue Fire Foundation, speaks to Bellevue firefighters Tuesday at the Bellevue Public Safety Training Center, where Amazon and the Gary Sinise Foundation awarded a $56,000 equipment grant to the Bellevue nonprofit.
The Gary Sinise Foundation, in partnership with Amazon, donated more than $100,000 worth of new equipment this week to Bellevue and South King County first responders ahead of National First Responders Day on Oct. 28.
The foundation and Amazon held ceremonies presenting equipment grants, including $56,000 to the Bellevue Fire Foundation to provide thermal imaging cameras that allow Bellevue firefighters to see through smoke and darkness by detecting heat signatures and enabling safe navigation in hazardous conditions, according to a news release.
The nonprofit Bellevue Fire Foundation supports Bellevue’s firefighters and paramedics by providing additional financial resources for equipment, training, and community engagement programs.
The Gary Sinise Foundation and Amazon also presented a $50,000 grant to South King Fire for 14 self-contained breathing apparatuses and two sets of night-vision goggles for Fire Boat Zenith to enhance the department’s ability to respond swiftly and safely on the water, according to a Facebook post from South King Fire. The fire district has stations in Auburn, Des Moines, and Federal Way.
In addition to grants, the organizations served meals to the first responders in South King and Bellevue to thank them for their service.
Firefighters with South King Fire on Monday show a Federal Way policeman how the firefighters’ new night-vision goggles work. Police were invited to Station 62 in Federal Way for the equipment grant donation and thank-you meal given by Amazon and the Gary Sinise Foundation to the first responders.
This year’s donations follow more than $200,000 worth of first responder grants by the foundation and Amazon across the state last year, including to Spokane County Fire District 10, the Franklin County Fire District, Everett Fire Department, and West Pierce Fire and Rescue.
The foundation was established in 2011 under the philanthropic direction of actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise, a staunch supporter of veterans, first responders, and defenders for more than 40 years.
Chrissy Kreisel, senior director of corporate and foundation relations at the Gary Sinise Foundation, thanked Amazon for its support.
“Through our partnership, Amazon has displayed incredible compassion for our mission and a commitment to delivering direct meaningful impact to the heroes of our communities, the first responders who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” Kreisel said in a statement.
Dean Allsopp, community engagement manager for Amazon, said the company was proud to support the Gary Sinise Foundation, or GSF, to help ensure Puget Sound fire departments have the equipment and resources they need.
“As a longtime member of the Puget Sound community, Amazon’s partnership with GSF is one way we can show our gratitude and help make a meaningful difference,” Allsopp said.
Amazon’s support of the foundation nationally over the last three years has included GSF’s annual healing retreat at Walt Disney World Resort for families of the fallen, and supporting construction of specially adapted smart homes.
