GIG HARBOR, Wash. — Pierce County Fire District 5 has accepted a $6,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship® Grant supporting the 5th annual “Crunch Time” auto extrication training for the region’s firefighters and first responders.
Gig Harbor, Wash. State Farm Agent Patrick Kelly and State Farm Auto Estimatics Property Claim Trainer Dale Wilson presented the $6,000 State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship® Grant to “Crunch Time” Auto Extrication Coordinator Todd D. Meyer, who is also a Gig Harbor Fire Lieutenant and Acting Battalion Chief, at the Pierce County Fire District 5 Commissioners Meeting on Monday, June 11, 2007 at the Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One station, 10222 Bujacich Road NW, Gig Harbor, Wash., 98332.
State Farm Agent Patrick Kelly said State Farm recognizes and applauds “Crunch Time” Training for its commitment to cutting-edge safety and training in Gig Harbor and across the Pacific Northwest region.
“On behalf of claims, agency, and operations here at State Farm, I am pleased to present Pierce County Fire District 5 with this grant for $6,000,” State Farm Agent Patrick Kelly said. “I want to thank you for the incredible job you do, day in and day out for the residents of our community. Your efforts make a significant difference in saving lives each and every day. We are proud to partner with you in your great educational training course – ‘Crunch Time’. Again, thanks for what you do. It is greatly appreciated.”
State Farm also announced the donation of 15 salvage vehicles for the training, with a combined value of more than $5,280. This is the fourth year State Farm is donating totaled vehicles, allowing participants to learn motor vehicle cutting and removal techniques at accident scenes. It’s the first ever State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship® Grant presented to “Crunch Time”. The five Fire District Commissioners and representatives of the Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Department warmly welcomed the donation.
This nationally-recognized, two-day training serves firefighters and emergency first responders from Washington and surrounding states. Sixty-six students are registered for “Crunch Time” 2007 scheduled for September 15 and 16, 2007 at the Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One Training Facility, 10222 Bujacich Road NW, Gig Harbor, Wash., 98332.
“Our goal at ‘Crunch Time’ is to provide a safe and challenging learning environment with plenty of tool time,”
explains “Crunch Time” Coordinator Todd D. Meyer. “Gig Harbor Fire is dedicated to delivering quality training that promotes the most effective methods concerning vehicle extrication.”
The State Farm Good Neighbor Citizenship® Grant will help pay for equipment vital to creating real-life scenarios.
“The State Farm Grant lets us purchase additional training supplies that may include semi trucks, farm equipment, and other large machinery involving entanglement situations,” Meyer adds.
Grant funds also defray tuition fees. Several attendees can now attend, who might not otherwise get hands-on, advance training before encountering real-life hazards at emergency scenes.
“State Farm’s Good Citizenship® Grant allows us to reduce tuition costs for every student,” Meyer explains. “‘Crunch Time” is a training arena where firefighters from small, rural fire departments can work and train alongside firefighters from large urban fire departments. We strive to keep our student-to-instructor ratio low to ensure a quality program.”
“Thank for your being generous and sharing the Grant with participants,” says Denise Baker of Special Operations and Training Support in the Parker Fire District, Parker, Colorado. “And, thanks to State Farm for its generosity in recognizing the value of ‘Crunch Time.’”
State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm’s 17,000 agents and 76,000 employees serve nearly 73 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada.