Mount Prospect Nonprofit Receives $299,047 Federal Grant Smoke Alarms to be Distributed and Installed for Illinois Residents

Mount Prospect Nonprofit Receives $299,047 Federal Grant

Smoke Alarms to be Distributed and Installed for Illinois Residents

Mount Prospect, IL – Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance is proud to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) program. This $299,047 grant will enable Camp I Am Me to purchase 16,000 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms and 400 bed shaker smoke alarm aids for hard-of-hearing and deaf residents.

The AFG grant provides 95% of the funds of $299,047 with a 5% match of $14,952 from Camp I Am Me.

Dennis Bryar, Vice-President of Camp I Am Me, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are thrilled that FEMA/AFT will help us further our mission by providing residents across the state with this lifesaving equipment. This grant is a game-changer for our communities allowing us to expand our impact and extend assistance to those with hearing impairments.”

These devices will support the Be Alarmed! Smoke Alarm Installation Program, which is a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered cooperatively between Camp I Am Me and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. The program distributes fire safety education materials and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments in the state of Illinois. The departments then deliver the education while installing smoke alarms in at-risk homes within their communities.

“The Be Alarmed! Program helps save lives across the state and the funds received through the AFG Grant will help to enhance this program by providing even more lifesaving alarms to fire departments to install alarms in homes across the state,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “It’s simple, working smoke alarms save lives.”

This grant will make it possible to provide these critical devices to more than 280 Illinois fire departments currently participating in the Be Alarmed! program, equipping thousands of homes with smoke alarms and ensuring that countless residents can be alerted swiftly in the event of a fire.

Camp I Am Me supporter U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley noted, “I am pleased to have worked alongside Camp I Am Me to help them secure this grant. A working smoke alarm can mean the difference between life and death. Now, thousands of Illinoisans can go to sleep at night knowing they are prepared and protected from potential danger in their homes. This grant also helps our dedicated firefighters arrive earlier and hopefully save a home or better yet, save a life.”

To learn more about Camp I Am Me and the Be Alarmed! Program, visit www.IFSA.org/alarms.

– Camp is not just a place, it is a family –

About Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance:

Camp I Am Me by Illinois Fire Safety Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers safe, non-judgmental environments for children and adults who have experienced severe burn injuries. Since 1989, Camp I Am Me has brought support, strength, and happiness to hundreds of children, adults, and families. The organization is supported by generous volunteers and donors, including medical and fire service professionals who donate their time and services. Thousands of campers and survivors have attended Camp I Am Me programs since the organization’s inception. In all, there are 20-plus programs offered annually that meet the needs of individuals and families who have been affected by burn-related injuries. Learn more at www.IFSA.org.