Newly-Formed 'Last Call Foundation' Honors Memory of Fallen Boston FF

Photo Credit: lastcallfoundation.org

A new foundation launched Friday aims to support the Boston firefighting community through funding, education and research in honor of the memory of Boston Firefighter Michael Kennedy, who died along with Boston Fire Lt. Edward Walsh while battling a fire in Back Bay last March.

The Last Call Foundation was formed by Kennedy’s mother, Kathy Crosby-Bell, who established the group to help provide Boston’s firefighters with support and tools to protect themselves and the public.

“Every time our firefighters answer a call, they are putting themselves in harm’s way to make our city safe,” Crosby-Bell, president of the Last Call Foundation, said in a statement. “For their heroism, they deserve our support and every tool available to do their job as effectively and safely as possible. It is our hope that our efforts here will help prevent future tragedies such as the one on March 26 of this year.”

The foundation was named after the last call that a firefighter responds to, and works on the following three main initiatives for 2014 that aims to supply firefighters in Boston with support and resources:

• Comfort and Canteen Truck: A truck staffed by the Boston Sparks Association that will provide first responders in Boston and the surrounding area with resources to handle large-scale emergencies, including water, food and clean clothing.

• Industrial Washers and Dryers: The LCF will equip firehouses in Boston with equipment needed to keep gear clean and firefighters healthy, as many deal with potentially life-threatening carcinogens, chemicals and biological agents that can contaminate clothing and equipment.

• Research on Fire Protection Engineering: The LCF will provide funding for fire safety research at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Moreover, the LFC plans to continue to support improvements and renovations to the city’s firehouses and work to raise awareness and educate the public about challenges firefighters face on a daily basis.

“As commissioner, the health and safety of the Boston firefighting community is my top priority,” said Boston Fire Commissioner Joe Finn. “We welcome the support of the foundation and look forward to continuing to make the wellbeing of our firefighters a priority.”

For more information, visit lastcallfoundation.org or follow the foundation on Facebook at facebook.com/lastcallfoundation.

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