The holidays are often called the season of giving. For some people, that means shopping for gifts for family and friends. However, some take the opportunity to make a bigger statement, supporting those in the community who need the most help.
The Second Annual Battalion One Christmas Party was held on November 17th to raise money for the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund. “All eight fire stations in Battalion One were represented along with the Chain of Command,” said Jerry Bedoya from Fire Station 10, one of the organizers of the event. In total, there were 240 attendees, quite a jump from last year’s attendance of 115. Retired firefighters and their spouses accounted for about two dozen of the partygoers.
The party was held on the 32nd floor penthouse of the AT&T Building in downtown Los Angeles, just north of Fire Station 10. This swanky location is all thanks to a long-standing relationship between Fire Station 10 and the AT&T management. Several decades ago when the building was still known as the Occidental Building, Fire Station 10 put out a fire in a memorable incident that some firefighters say lead to the LAFD developing its current standards for dealing with high-rise fires.
Those who attended the party paid a flat entrance fee which covered the cost of the event, with the excess going to Widows & Orphans. The fee was $130 per couple. Considering that attendees received a catered dinner, had access to an open bar for eight hours, enjoyed a DJ and dancing, and had free parking, it was a great value even before one takes into consideration that they were raising money for a worthwhile cause.
The total raised for Widows & Orphans was $1,500, a substantial increase from last year’s total of $900. Perhaps more importantly, everyone had a wonderful time kicking off the holiday season. “The camaraderie gained through such a worthy event is immeasurable,” Jerry remarked, adding that it was an “extremely fun evening for all.”
Instrumental in the success of the event were Frank Cornejo (Fire Station 2), Sean Kinkor (Fire Station 3), Todd Gravitt (Fire Station 4), Chase Coleman (Fire Station 9), Billy Wenger (Fire Station 10), Jason Shickle (Fire Station 14), Doug Weber (Fire Station 17), Tom Valdespino (Fire Station 25), Lisa Garcia & Lisa Willis (Decorations). With this year’s Battalion One Christmas Party being such a fantastic fundraising achievement, we can’t wait to see what 2013 holds and are grateful so many have caught on to the giving spirit.
By Jody Houser