In two related gestures of continuing support of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) as well as the families and children of fallen firefighters, Southern Wine & Spirits of America Foundation today announced that it has donated Six Thermal Imaging Cameras as well as a specially-equipped 2008 Chevy Suburban truck to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund, which was organized in the memory of Terry Farrell, a New York Firefighter who died on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center. Among its projects, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund helps the children of FDNY fallen heroes who need scholarships to continue their studies as well as supports groups which furnish needed transportation for FDNY families. (For more information, log onto: www.terryfarrellfund.org.)
According to Brian Farrell, brother of Terry and a board member of the non-profit group, the six Thermal Imaging Cameras, which are manufactured by ISG Systems of Lawrenceville, Georgia, are designed specifically for the highly-specialized field of firefighting. Mr. Farrell noted that each of these cameras comes equipped with leading-edge technology that offers safety to firefighters, allowing them to see through flames and thick smoke in an effort to locate and save adults and children trapped in a burning structure. Mr. Farrell added the first of the six cameras is going to FDNY’s Rescue 4 group in Queens, where Terry Farrell served before 9/11/2001; the five remaining cameras will be distributed to other deserving firefighter rescue groups in New York City, elsewhere in New York State and possibly to other rescue teams around the United States.
In addition, Mr. Farrell expressed appreciation for another separate donation from the Southern Wine & Spirits of America Foundation to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund, a specially-outfitted 2008 Chevy Suburban truck for the Fund for the Fire Family Transport Foundation, which is affiliated to the Fire Department of New York. (See photo at www.firefamilytransport.org.)
According to the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation website, this group is “dedicated to helping the Fire Family in its time of need by providing transportation to the families of injured, ill or deceased New York City Firefighters. We are also dedicated to promoting the greater good of the New York City Fire Department.” (For more information, please log onto: www.firefamilytransport.org.)
The Southern Wine & Spirits Foundation is the charitable arm of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., the Nation’s Leading Wine and Spirits Distributor and Control States Broker with a tradition of service excellence since 1968 — and proudly celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Both donations from the Southern Wine & Spirits Foundation were facilitated by the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund, which was organized in the memory of Terry Farrell, a New York Firefighter who died on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center. This charitable group provides educational grants and scholarships to children of fallen heroes of the Fire Department of New York.
Acknowledging the personal involvement and support of Harvey R. Chaplin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., Brian Farrell said: “Mr. Chaplin’s personal donations have been instrumental in building our foundation, which have helped many children of affected families continue their education.” Further commenting, Mr. Farrell said, “The thermal imaging cameras are true lifesavers. Likewise, the generous gift from Southern Wine & Spirits Foundation of a specially outfitted 2008 Chevy Suburban is warmly welcomed and extremely appreciated by the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation.”
Mr. Chaplin said, “On behalf of Wayne E. Chaplin, President and COO, and our fellow Southern team members, I am very proud of our support of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund. Our association with this deserving, non-profit group is reflective of our Company’s longstanding commitment to community service and a tradition of giving back to worthy national, state and local charitable, medical, educational and philanthropic institutions.”
In addition to the recent donations of the Six Thermal Imaging Cameras and the 2008 Suburban truck, since 2005, both the Southern Wine & Spirits Foundation and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York have been active participants in and corporate sponsors of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund’s other related charitable efforts.
For example, in 2006, as part of the fundraising effort for the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund, Mr. Chaplin said that Fortune Brands, marketers and producers of Jim Beam Bourbon, among other brands, auctioned off two of the remaining cases of Jim Beam Bourbon bearing the special “343” label to its New York employees, with proceeds going to the fund. Mr. Chaplin added that Southern Wine & Spirits of America matched those funds raised by the Beam “343” auction and added this donation to the Terry Farrell Firefighters Scholarship Fund.
About Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc.
Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. is the nation’s Leading Wine and Spirits Distributor and Control States Broker with a forty-year tradition of service excellence since 1968, with operations in 29 states. The Company currently operates in: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. The Company has a strategic partnership with Alaska Distributors Co. of Seattle, Washington, called Southern Wine/Spirits West, a joint venture that has wine and spirits brokerage operations across the Northwest Control States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. On a national basis, Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc. employs more than 10,500 team members