Be sure to mark calendars now – Saturday, Sept. 22, for the Rowlett Strong, Inc. second First Response Appreciation Gala. The gala will be at Vouv Dallas, 4445 Sigma Road near Midway and LBJ Freeway.
The first gala, presented by Baylor Scott & White and held July 15, 2017, provided recognition to the over 70 police, fire, medical, Office of Emergency Management and public works departments that responded to the Dec. 26, 2015, tornado that ravaged Rowlett.
Police and fire rescue departments from all across North Texas received plaques honoring their service. The plaques were made from authentic tornado wood recovered from the debris after the disastrous event.
OEM and public works departments were also presented certificates honoring their hard work in aiding the recovery and rebuilding of Rowlett.
The money raised from each First Response Appreciation Gala, as well as other Rowlett Strong fundraisers throughout the year, is used to create a fund to help give back to those who responded from across the region. Funds will be available as grants that members of responding departments can apply for when there is an injury, death or other personal disaster in their lives. The hope is that these small grants will help fill in the financial gaps that are always found in the face of tragedy.
The first two grants have already been awarded: the first one to a member of the Rowlett Public Works Department who lost his home in a fire just after the start of the new year, and the second to the family of fallen Richardson police officer David Sherrard. Official opening of the grant window for applications will be announced later this month.
The tornado recovery period has officially ended. Most residents that wished to return to their homes have done so. The First Response Appreciation Gala is a grass roots effort to show those who helped Rowlett residents in their greatest time of need that our gratitude doesn’t end when the recovery period ends.
The second gala date was selected to correspond with the first Senate resolution for a National First Responders Day/Month (proposed in 2007) but which Congress has yet to pass into law.
Here is a small sampling of the organizations honored at the first gala: Allen Public Works; Carrollton Dallas Fire Rescue; Plano Police Department; CareFlite; Mesquite Fire Department; Rockwall Sheriff’s Department; Farmers Branch Fire Department; Dallas Public Works; Texas Department of Public Safety; Addison Police/Fire departments; Allen Police Department; University Park Public Works; Richardson Police/Fire departments; Fort Worth Public Works; and Sachse Fire Department.
Individual tickets for the gala are $95. There is an early-bird admission price of $85/person in effect until June 30.
Ten-seat tables for company or personal use are $850. Table sponsorship for first responders covers the cost of attendance for ten first responders and is $800/table.
Register at www.rowlettstrong.com/gala. Event sponsorships are still available. Rowlett Strong, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) exempt nonprofit organization.