In 2004, the first National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Golf Tournament was held to raise awareness and to help sustain the programs of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The Foundation, was created by the United States Congress to lead a nationwide effort to remember America's fallen firefighters. Since 1992, the nonprofit foundation has developed and expanded programs to honor fallen fire heroes and assist their families and coworkers.

Now in its seventh year, the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Golf Tournament has grown to include 50 regional golf tournaments held across the country on behalf of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. These tournaments will help the Foundation continue to support the families and co-workers of fallen firefighters.

In 2009, 32 tournaments raised $236,000 in support of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation programs!

National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Every October, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the official national tribute to all firefighters who died in the line-of-duty during the previous year. Thousands attend the Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Foundation helps survivors attend by providing travel, lodging and meals.

Fire Service Survivor Conference This special week of activities is designed to address issues related to loss, provide training for those providing outreach to others, and provide a chance to network with other survivors. Survivors also share their ideas to improve existing Foundation programs and create new ones based on the needs of survivors.

Fire Service Survivors Network Families receive emotional assistance through a Fire Service Survivors Network, which matches survivors with similar experiences and circumstances. Families receive a quarterly newsletter, specialized grief publications and other resources.

Scholarships Spouses, life partners, children, and stepchildren of fallen firefighters honored at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial are eligible for scholarship assistance for post-secondary education and job training costs.

Taking Care of Our Own® Program The Taking Care of Our Own® training program helps fire departments prepare for the worst - a line-of-duty death or serious injury. Fire service personnel and families who have lost a firefighter in the line-of-duty helped develop this one-day course. It covers pre-incident planning, survivor notification, family and co-worker support, and benefits and resources available to the families.

Local Assistance State Teams Everything that happens immediately after a line-of-duty death affects the way the family, the department, and the community recover from the loss. Lack of resources and planning often adds to the confusion and pain that occurs. The Foundation thinks the best place for a department to turn for support is within its own state or region. Through a collaborative effort with the Department of Justice, we have developed resources and training to help establish state and regional Local Assistanct State Teams to assist in the event of a line-of-duty death.

Everyone Goes Home® Program In 2004, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation launched a national initiative to bring prevention to the forefront. The Everyone Goes Home® Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program was developed to help reduce the number of preventable firefighter fatalities and to change the safety culture of the fire service.

For more information about the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and its programs visit www.firehero.org.

» Also: Your Support Means So Much to the Families of Our Fallen Firefighters
» Video: About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation