NEW YORK, NY (December 12, 2019) – First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF) is pleased to announce that the Foundation has awarded a CSX ‘Pride in Service’ Grant in support of ‘Operation Santa,’ an annual holiday event hosted by the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation (CPMF).

Operation Santa provides holiday cheer to families of Chicago police officers who were killed or catastrophically injured in the line of duty. A press conference will be held on the morning of Saturday, December 14, at Macy’s department store on State Street to kick off the festivities. Santa will be delivering gifts throughout Chicago neighborhoods on December 14th and 15th. Santa will be joined by his elves; Chicago Police Officers; Bob Stanberry, Director of Strategic Partnerships for First Responders

Children’s Foundation; and supporters of the event. The motorcade of well wishers will deliver gifts to over 50 children of Chicago Police officers who have died protecting the citizens of Chicago, officers injured in the line of duty and officers who are serving in the military overseas. All children will receive gifts hand-picked for them by CPMF.

“The holiday season can be extremely difficult for families who have suffered the loss of a loved one or dealing with life-changing circumstances as a result of line-of-duty injury. FRCF is honored to be supporting an event that directly impacts the families of our first responders, and we thank CSX ‘Pride in Service’ for partnering with our Foundation to help fund this grant,” said Jillian Crane, President of First Responders Children’s Foundation.

FRCF’s partnership with CSX, a premier transportation company, provides: scholarships to children of first responders, emergency grants bestowed to first responder children with a parent who lost his or her life or became disabled in the line of duty, as well as industry grants for public safety education and child safety needs.

Ms. Crane added: “FRCF looks forward to working closely with the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation to support first responders and their families in the Chicago area with FRCF and CSX Pride in Service Scholarships and Grants.”

The event will mark the 14th year of CPMF spreading joy to first responder families. The Foundation will fund the purchase of gifts for children of the Chicago police officers that have died or have been injured in the line of duty.

“The First Responders Children’s Foundation CSX ‘Pride in Service’ Grant has provided CPMF the gift of putting a smile on the faces of children of Chicago police officers. Operation Santa is a way for us to remind these families that we will never forget, and to also remind their children and families that they will always be part of our family. A partnership with First Responders Children’s Foundation means so much to us – the mission of both our foundations’ are perfectly aligned and we look forward to working together for years to come.” Said Bridget Hannon Schuda, Development & Communications Officer for CPMF

Source First Responders Childrens Foundation / Edited by Fire and Aviation TV 12/12/19