IAFF and MDA: A Proud Partnership
Fill the Boot [FILL THE BOOT 2009.pps]

The Firefighters of Menlo Park thank you for your support at Ravenswood and El Camino Real on August 27th, 2009.  With everyone reaching a little deeper in their pockets we were able to raise $14,815.00 this year a new record, both for Menlo Park Firefighters and San Mateo County.  Thank you for your efforts in Filling the Boot for the MDA.

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the largest national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). More than 280,000 members of the IAFF in the United States and Canada are pledged to saving lives, both as fire fighters and paramedics and are the strongest campaigners for the worldwide research efforts of MDA, an organization dedicated to eradicating 40 neuromuscular diseases.
The contributions of the fire fighters also go towards MDA’s summer camps for children, professional and public health education, and other programs.  Tens of thousands of fire fighters and paramedics across the US and Canada have donated nearly $275 million to MDA since 1954.

Annually the IAFF raises millions of dollars through their passionate Fill the Boot campaigns, in which fire fighters greet motorists, shoppers and citizens alike asking them to donate money to MDA. This year’s upcoming IAFF-MDA events are expected to raise even more to cure these crushing illnesses.

In 2004 San Mateo County Firefighters IAFF Local 2400 became involved with the Fill the Boot campaign and was able to raise $6992.00.  In an effort to increase participation within the various Districts of our Local, Local 2400 Secretary, Tony Slimick, created the “Golden Boot Award” for the District in the Local that raised the most funds during the Fill the Boot Drive. 

In 2005 Menlo Park Firefighters, District 10 of IAFF Local 2400, became involved with the Drive under the leadership of Menlo Park Firefighter Association Member Mike Sweeney. Under Mike’s leadership Menlo Park Firefighters overtook Redwood City Firefighters and won the “Golden Boot” in 2006 as well as 2007.  In 2008, however, San Mateo City Firefighters surged to the forefront and won the “Golden Boot”.   San Mateo Firefighters hold their fill the boot on October 22nd, 2009, after that we will know if Menlo Park’s $14,815.00 will be enough to take the “Golden Boot” back.