Donations are raised through the Silent Auction, Golf & Bowling Tournaments along with Boot Collections.

Total donations noted below as of August 2015.

Fund Type:	Fund Amount:
Illness	$26,083
Injury	$6,100
Death	$6,200
Property Loss/Damage	$4,250
Life Challenge Program	$1,000
Storm King 14 Event & Scholarships	$6,298
Wildland Firefighters Foundation	$850
Total	$50,781

The Colorado Wildland Fire & Incident Management Academy (CWFIMA) Benefit Fund was started in late 1999, when one of the Academy’s long-time instructors was diagnosed with a serious illness. The CWFIMA Team planned a fund-raiser to assist him and his family financially. One fund-raiser led to another and the CWFIMA Benefit Fund was born. The purpose of the CWFIMA Benefit Fund is to help anyone in the incident responder family who is dealing with illness or injury and is in financial need. The incident responder family includes everyone involved in incident responses along with their families.

This Benefit is managed by the CWFIMA Incident Management Team.

Requests for benefit funds are discussed and decided upon by the Team. All funds raised are managed under a nonprofit organization,
the Upper Arkansas Valley Wildfire Foundation. Money-raisers include golf tournaments, silent auctions, drawings for prizes, individual and corporate donations, plus passing the boot at Academy sponsored events. The first check from the Benefit Fund was presented in June 2000. We have assisted responders (structure and/or wildland) who have been stricken by terminal illness, serious injuries, and traumatic events, including loss of a family member. Since 2000, we have given well over $49,000 to our fellow comrades in need. Checks have ranged from $500 to $5,000 depending on the need.

The CWFIMA receives strong support from the fire community for its training events, and the CWFIMA Team is grateful to be able to give back in the form of the Benefit Fund.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Wendy Fischer, Coordinator

P.O. Box 1777, Alamosa, CO 81101

(719) 589-1400