For years, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund (TFFSF) has been providing support and assistance to firefighters and fire stations throughout the country, and now they are in immediate need of reciprocal support and are seeking the help of the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society membership and others.

Since 2006, Beam Global Spirits and Wine has served as a corporate sponsor of the TFFSF through the sales of their special-edition Jim Beam Firefighter–label bourbon. The fund provides scholarship assistance to the children of active, retired, disabled or deceased firefighters who are or have served with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) or a volunteer department. The Fund is also the source of equipment and gear for departments in need. However, because of a recent change in leadership in the Beam corporation, the special label program is being discontinued, posing a major threat to existence of the TFFSF.

In 2009 alone, Beam firefighter label sales were the source of $200,000 in donations to the TFFSF. As a result, the organization was able to provide 500 sets of turnout gear, two ladder trucks, five engines, 10 chief's vehicles, two heavy rescue trucks and six ambulances to departments from Long Island to Indiana. A ladder truck will be delivered to a station in Warner, Okla., shortly. The Fund is able to secure the vehicles and equipment from “wealthier” departments to assist those in need.

Ninety-seven percent of all monies collected by the TFFSF go back out as some form of assistance. The staff are all volunteers, and much of the supplies and other items necessary to run the organization are donations. Without the support from Beam, which is the primary source of funding for the organization, the assistance to the fire community is in danger of drying up.

According to Brian Farrell, the chairman of the TFFSF, the special edition label program has been a tremendous success for the Beam corporation, selling out of the inventory within a two- to three-month period. Unfortunately, similar label ventures for other organizations did not prove as profitable for Beam, resulting in the new corporate CEO's decision to halt production of all special edition labels.

The TFFSF has asked FOOLS members to voice their immediate support for the Special Edition Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund label.

“Please send an email to the President, Bill.Newlands@beamglobal.com and to the CEO, Matt.shattock@beamglobal.com and ask them to continue to support firefighters,” said Brian Farrell. “No other company has stepped up like Beam, and to lose them now could put an end to our fund.”

For more information on the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund and the special edition label, please visit http://www.terryfarrellfund.org/.