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A Grant Story
Following is a first-hand account from Joe Costamagna, assistant vice president for Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Insurance Services of California (HRH) in Novato, Calif., based on his recent experience directing a grant to the Marinwood Fire Department. Joe and some of his colleagues nominated the department for a Fireman’s Fund HeritageSM grant to purchase a thermal imaging camera as part of the Heritage RewardsSM program.
When I first heard about the Fireman’s Fund Heritage program last year, I thought that while the program had lofty goals, I wasn’t sure any company could live up to them. I also suspected the nomination process to be long and arduous based on my understanding of other grant programs. I was surprised and pleased to find out just the opposite.
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HRH agents Jim Parrett and Joe Costamagna and Fireman’s Fund’s Jeff Lucia award the Marinwood fire department a $14,000 grant.
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I started to think about how to help the Marinwood Fire Department, a department I often call to consult on fire prevention issues. When I told Marinwood’s chief Tom Roach that we were considering nominating his department for a Heritage grant, he told me he already knew about the program and was thrilled to be considered. His next sentence was to the point: "We need a thermal imaging camera." The department had never owned the equipment due to its extremely lean budget.
HRH’s Heritage Rewards team quickly got on board, and the process moved along just as fast. We started the nomination process and three weeks later Chief Roach received the grant check. We all were overjoyed, and Chief Roach was impressed with the program’s efficiency. A straight shooter, he just said, "You rock."
The day of the check presentation, my team and I got to meet members of the fire department. Several firefighters attended in their dress blues. They told us again and again how much the thermal imaging camera will make a difference to their efficiency and morale and expressed their thanks for receiving this support. We were just happy we could help at all.
Before becoming involved in the Heritage program, the HRH team was generally aware of budget challenges faced by so many public agencies, but now we have seen first-hand the needs and responsibilities of these local fire departments. The issue has now become more important to many of us at HRH, and it’s unexpectedly given the company a powerful issue to rally around.
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