Founded by AFD Fire Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr, the Austin Fire Foundation Fund ® was established to support the City of Austin Fire Department’s community outreach and public education efforts.
During her tenure as Deputy Chief of the Fort Lauderdale Fire Department, Chief Kerr experienced an event that would shape the rest of her life, when two young children died tragically in a house fire. Fast forward to 2011, when she had two years of tenure under her belt as the first female Fire Chief in Austin, Texas, this event in Florida sparked an idea—the creation of the Austin Fire Foundation, established to support the City of Austin Fire Department’s community outreach and public education efforts. Soon after, a campaign close to Chief Kerr’s heart was established — “Zero Fire Deaths”, which focuses on installing smoke alarms in homes throughout the greater Austin metropolitan area to help prevent possible fire fatalities. In 2013, more than 1,200 smoke alarms were installed by Austin Firefighters at no charge. To date, more than $25,000 has been raised in support of this ongoing effort, but more is needed to drive home the importance of fire prevention in 2014.
The Austin Fire Foundation is a designated fund of the Austin Community Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which serves as the fiduciary agent for the fund. With this partnership, 99 percent of every dollar donated to the Austin Fire Foundation is routed directly to the community outreach and public education initiatives, and is also tax-deductible! This model ensures the maximum number of beneficiaries with the greatest possible impact, as well as full tax benefits to donors.
Community and corporate support for this Foundation is welcome and encouraged – the more funds that are raised, the more the citizens of Austin, TX will benefit.
To make your tax-deductible donation, please visit the Austin Fire Foundation Fund page on the Austin Community Foundation Website, indicate your donation amount with personal information, and submit. You will receive a receipt and confirmation of your donation from the Austin Community Foundation for your tax purposes.
For gifts of $5,000 or more, to designate your gift as “In Memoriam”, “In Honor Of”, or to create a legacy gift, please contact Amy Allen, Director of Donor Relations at the Austin Community Foundation to discuss (P 512.220.1185 or aallen@austincf.org).
If you prefer to pay by check, please make checks payable to “Austin Fire Foundation” and remit to the address below:
Austin Community Foundation
C/O Austin Fire Foundation
4315 Guadalupe, Suite 300
Austin, TX 78751
Thank you for your support of the Austin Fire Foundation!