March 6, 2009

Susan Lindenmuth
Public Relations Manager
21500 Three Oaks Parkway
Estero, FL 33928

Office:
(239) 390-8000

Email:
lindenmuth@esterofire.org
www.esterofire.org

EFR Goes GREEN for Children of Fallen Firefighters

On Tuesday, March 17, 2009 you may see Estero firefighters in something other than their normal uniforms but it is all for a great cause.  Estero firefighters as well as firefighters from around Lee County will be wearing specially designed St. Patrick’s Day shirts with all the proceeds going to help the children of two fallen South Trail firefighters lost in 2008.

But this isn’t the first year that Estero firefighters have given the shirts off their backs to help local brother and sister firefighters and their families.  For the fourth year in a row, firefighter themed St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts are flying off the shelves at Estero Fire Rescue Station #43. 

The project was started with Estero Fire Rescue Lt. Grant Schwalbe and Firefighter Jason Richards in March 2005.  After hearing that a San Carlos firefighter was in need of help, they came up with the project that has continued to grow with an average donation of $3,000.00.  Over the past three years, proceeds from the sale of these shirts have gone to help firefighter families from San Carlos Park and Estero.  Each year they design and order the shirts for distribution all over the county as well as the surrounding areas. 

This year the South Trail Children’s Fund will receive the proceeds to help the families of two fallen firefighters; Engineer David Martin and Firefighter Ken Murtaugh. 

For more information on this story, contact Susan Lindenmuth, Public Relations Manager for Estero Fire Rescue at (239) 390-8000.