More than 400 EMS providers in the Gulf Coast received almost $120,000 from the EMS & Rescuer Relief Fund in time for Christmas.

The $119,978.63 collected before the holidays was divided equally among 403 eligible providers, who received disbursement checks to help offset losses they suffered when their Gulf Coast area homes were devastated by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005.

According to EMS & Rescuer Relief Fund Administrator Jim Allen, the funds were disbursed equally among the eligible recipients. The fund will continue to collect donations and will make a subsequent distribution in spring 2006.

Donations Large and Small

The EMS & Rescuer Relief Fund, administered by the NAEMT Foundation, received several donations prior to the holidays from corporations, organizations and businesses that have an interest in EMS.

Johnson & Johnson donated $20,000 to the fund, according to NAEMT Treasurer Ed Sawicki. The donation is in keeping with the company's corporate credo of valuing its employees and the communities in which they live and work. Johnson & Johnson was an early supporter of EMS through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which was named for the company's founder.

The Iowa Emergency Medical Services Association (IEMSA) hosted a fund-raising silent auction in early December at its annual conference. Board member Julie Scadden, along with Tami Glienke and Colleen Grimes, made a quilt in just three days and donated it to the auction. Approximately $1,800 was raised, with the quilt being sold for $250. An additional $2,600 was raised at the conference for the EMS & Rescuer Relief Fund, and board members donated an additional $600 to make the IEMSA total donation $5,000.
Instead of printing and mailing holiday cards each year, the law firm of Page, Wolfberg and Wirth selects a charitable organization and donates the money the firm would have spent on cards and postage to the organization. The firm selected the EMS & Rescuer Relief Fund as this year's worthwhile organization, and made a $550 donation.

Other large donations included:

" $5,000 from Sioux Center Ambulance in Iowa;
" $1,000 from the Black Hawk County EMS Association in Iowa;
" $2,500 from the Brandon Fire Department Relief Association in Minnesota;
" $4,004.95 from the city of Hartsville, South Carolina;
" $3,000 from the Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association;
" $3,365.98 from the Stafford Township First Aid Squad in New Jersey;
" $1,036.16 from Empress Ambulance Association Inc. in New York;
" $1,000 from the Tennessee Ambulance Service Association;
" $6,800 from the Emergency Medical Service Association University Station in Utah
" $1,000 from the Bush Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps in New York.