$1,000 Grants Available For First Responders

DALLAS (WBAP/KLIF News) – Rowlett Strong, Inc., announced a grant opportunity today for first responders across North Texas working for departments that responded to the Christmas Tornado in Rowlett. 70 municipal first response departments responded to Rowlett to help the city through the aftermath of the EF4 tornado that destroyed much of the city.

The First Response Appreciation fund was created by Rowlett Strong after completing its original mission of raising funds for tornado relief. The organization now focuses on “paying it forward” to those who helped Rowlett in its greatest time of need. Money for the fund comes from fundraisers throughout the year, and the annual First Response Appreciation Gala. This year’s second annual gala will be held on September 22nd in Dallas.

Any first responder who works for a department that responded to this event in Rowlett is eligible to apply for one of three $1,000 grants that may be used to help them through their own personal tragedy. Members of Police, Fire, Public Works and Office of Emergency Management departments that responded to the Rowlett tornado aftermath may qualify.

Rowlett Strong has already awarded two grants from this fund, the first to Hunter Ward of the Rowlett Public Works department. Mr. Ward’s home burned the first week of this year. Mr. Ward was instrumental in keeping all the emergency vehicles in Rowlett running during the immediate aftermath of the tornado, a time when all hands and all vehicles were needed to stay in service.

The second grant was awarded to the family of Richardson PD’s Officer David Sherrard, who was killed in the line of duty on February 7, 2018.

Those interested in applying for a grant should visit the Rowlett Strong website beginning on April 2nd. The simple application will be available throughout the month of April. Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of one Rowlett first responder, one member of the Rowlett City Council, one member of the Rowlett Strong Board of Directors and three Rowlett citizens.

Rowlett Strong is conducting some scavenger hunt games (Scavenge North Texas) and will present the Second Annual First Response Appreciation Gala again this year to raise money to replenish this fund.

Below is an alphabetical list of the departments that responded to the Christmas Tornado. Information in the list received from the City of Rowlett.

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Addison Fire Department
Addison Police Department
Allen Police Department
Allen Public Works
American Medical Response
Arlington Public Works
Balch Springs Fire Department
Careflite
Carrollton Fire Department
Carrollton Public Works
Chickasha, OK Public Works
College Mound Volunteer Fire Department
Dallas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Dallas Fire Rescue
Dallas Office of Emergency Management
Dallas Public Works
Denton Public Works
Euless Public Works
Farmers Branch Fire Department
Farmers Branch Office of Emergency Management
Farmers Branch Public Works
Forney Fire Department
Fort Worth Public Works
Frisco Public Works
Grand Prairie Office of Emergency Management
Grand Prairie Public Works
Grapevine Office of Emergency Management
Heath Department of Public Safety
Keller Public Works
Lewisville Office of Emergency Management
Little Elm Public Works
Medic One
Mesquite Fire Department
Mesquite Public Works
Murphy Fire Department
North Central Texas Council of Governments Emergency Preparedness
Payne Springs Fire Department
Plano Office of Emergency Management
Plano Police Department
Plano Public Works
Richardson Fire Department
Richardson Office of Emergency Management
Richardson Police Department
Richardson Public Works
Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management
Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office
Rockwall Fire Department
Rockwall Office of Emergency Management
Rockwall Public Works
Rowlett Fire Department
Rowlett Office of Emergency Management
Rowlett Police Department
Rowlett Public Works
Royse City Fire Department
Sachse Fire Department
Sachse Office of Emergency Management
Sherman Police Department
Southlake Office of Emergency Management
Terrell Fire Department
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Division of Emergency Management—Garland
Texas Task Force 1
Texas Task Force 2
Trenton Volunteer Fire Department
University Park Public Works
Waxahachie Police Association
Wylie Fire Department
Wylie Office of Emergency Management