Volunteer firefighters' selfless rescue labors attract generous donations. By BUILDER Magazine Staff
In November 2001, the Somerset County Builders Association, the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA), and the NAHB presented eight volunteer fire departments in Somerset County, Pa., each with a $10,000 check.
The donations were to thank the volunteer firefighters who responded to the crash of United Airlines flight 93 on Sept. 11. "On Sept. 11 and the days and weeks that followed, the good people of Shanksville and its surrounding communities came together to demonstrate to the world that it matters not what corner of America is attacked, the resolve of the American people will remain the same," Toni J. Rogan, president of the PBA, said at the ceremony. This was the first disbursement from the NAHB's Home Builders Care Victims' Relief Fund established after the Sept. 11 attacks. More than $9 million in pledges and cash has been collected to provide direct assistance to the firefighters, police officers, and victims of the terrorist attacks.
"All of these firefighters are volunteers," says Richard Critchfield, president of the Somerset County Builders Association. "They gave up hundreds of hours of time to assist in the clean-up and never asked for a thing in return. We wanted to thank them for all they've done."
Visit www.HomeBuildersCare.org.
