Hero Fund America Fund Announces 2022 Grant Recipients

Hero Fund America Fund (HFA), a field-of-interest fund of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, today announced $15,000 in awards for first-responder organizations across the country. Each year the fund helps meet the education, training, lifesaving equipment and mental health needs of fire, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement agencies in New York and other states.

This year’s recipients received grants ranging from $400 to $1,200:

• Addison Fire Protection District – Addison, IL
• Aitkin County Search and Rescue Volunteers – Aitkin, MN
• Canajoharie Police Department – Canajoharie
• City of Fulton Fire Department – Fulton
• Cuba Community Fire Protection – Cuba, MO
• Englewood Rural Fire Department – Englewood, TN
• Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Company – Shamong, NJ
• Iowa Falls Fire Department & EMS – Iowa Falls, IA
• Medford Police Department – Medford, OK
• Middleburgh Emergency Volunteer Ambulance Corps. – Middleburgh
• Newton County Sheriff Department – Decatur, MS
• Old Forge Volunteer Ambulance Corps. – Old Forge
• Peacekeeper Initiative – Clearwater, FL
• Springwater-Wayland EMS – Wayland
• Herkimer Village Police Department – Herkimer
• Westmoreland Volunteer Fire Department – Westmoreland
• Willowvale Fire Company – New Hartford
• Wright Fire District – Schoharie

Hero Fund America Fund was founded in partnership with Hero Fund America, Inc., by Garth Roberts of Sharon Springs. Inspired by the selfless and heroic efforts of first responders during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, Roberts initiated the Provincetown First Responders Appreciation Month, honoring 45 Boston EMS paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers and their families; he was honored with a citation from Boston EMS for his efforts. The success of the Boston project resulted in the formation of Hero Fund America, which has awarded more than $47,000 in grants since 2016.

"Thanks to the generous support of our donors and event participants, the HFA Fund provides an annual opportunity for fire, EMS and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. to better serve their communities’ increasing needs,” said Roberts. “With enhanced training, education, and equipment, our first responders are better able to provide essential lifesaving services. We are grateful for our partnership with the Community Foundation and are hopeful that the grants provided will create healthier, safer outcomes for first responders and civilians alike.”

“Hero Fund America’s work and its impact for emergency response organizations across the country is so inspiring,” said Alicia Dicks, Community Foundation president/CEO. “We are honored to play a part in helping Garth Roberts and Hero Fund America fulfill a truly worthwhile mission.”

To learn more about Hero Fund America, visit herofundamerica.org. To make a donation to the fund, visit foundationhoc.org/hero.