Rowlett Strong, Inc. announced today that it will open its grant application window for First Responders working for departments that responded to the Christmas Tornado. The EF4 tornado destroyed much of the city of Rowlett and 70 municipal first response departments from across North Texas responded to Rowlett to help the city through the aftermath.
The First Response Appreciation fund was created by Rowlett Strong after completing its original mission of raising funds for tornado relief. The organization focuses on “paying it forward” to those who helped Rowlett in its greatest time of need.
Money for the fund comes from fundraisers and the annual First Response Appreciation Gala. This year’s gala is Sept. 22.
Any first responder who works for a department that responded to this event in Rowlett is eligible to apply for one of three $1,000 grants that may be used to help them through their own personal tragedy. Members of Police, Fire, Public Works and Office of Emergency Management departments that responded to the Rowlett tornado aftermath may qualify.
Rowlett Strong has already awarded two grants from this fund, the first to Hunter Ward of the Rowlett Public Works Department, whose home burned the first week of this year. Ward was instrumental in keeping all the emergency vehicles in
Rowlett running during the immediate aftermath of the tornado.
The second grant was awarded to the family of Richardson PD’s Officer David Sherrard, who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 7.
Those interested in applying for a grant should visit the Rowlett Strong website. The application will be available through April. Applications will be reviewed by a committee consisting of one Rowlett first responder, one member of the Rowlett City Council, one member of the Rowlett Strong board of directors and three Rowlett citizens.
Rowlett Strong is conducting scavenger hunt games (Scavenge North Texas) and will present the Second Annual First Response Appreciation Gala again this year to raise money to replenish this fund.
The list below is all the departments that responded to the Christmas Tornado.
Addison FD
Addison PD
Allen PD
Allen Public Works
American Medical Response
Arlington Public Works
Balch Springs FD
Careflite
Carrollton FD
Carrollton Public Works
Chickasha, OK Public Works
College Mound Volunteer FD
Dallas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
Dallas Fire Rescue
Dallas Office of Emergency Management
Dallas Public Works
Denton Public Works
Euless Public Works
Farmers Branch FD
Farmers Branch Office of Emergency Management
Farmers Branch Public Works
Forney FD
Fort Worth Public Works
Frisco Public Works
Grand Prairie Office of Emergency Management
Grand Prairie Public Works
Grapevine Office of Emergency Management
Heath Department of Public Safety
Keller Public Works
Lewisville Office of Emergency Management
Little Elm Public Works
Medic One
Mesquite FD
Mesquite Public Works
Murphy FD
North Central Texas Council of Governments Emergency Preparedness
Payne Springs FD
Plano Office of Emergency Management
Plano PD
Plano Public Works
Richardson FD
Richardson Office of Emergency Management
Richardson PD
Richardson Public Works
Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management
Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office
Rockwall FD
Rockwall Office of Emergency Management
Rockwall Public Works
Rowlett FD
Rowlett Office of Emergency Management
Rowlett PD
Rowlett Public Works
Royse City FD
Sachse FD
Sachse Office of Emergency Management
Sherman PD
Southlake Office of Emergency Management
Terrell FD
Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Division of Emergency Management—Garland
Texas Task Force 1
Texas Task Force 2
Trenton Volunteer FD
University Park Public Works
Waxahachie Police Association
Wylie FD
Wylie Office of Emergency Management