Successful Fund Raising for the Fallen Firemen
After the June 3 Berkeley Way fire that took the lives for Lt. Vincent Perez and Fireman Anthony Valerio of Station 26 in Diamond Heights, the Glen Park Association board of directors announced a $500 matching plan for donations to funds set up at the San Francisco Fire Credit Union for the Perez and Valerio families. The neighborhood response was immediate and generous, and the association quickly received more than $500 to match. To continue this effort, the Glen Park Association membership at the July 13 quarterly meeting approved a resolution to increase the match up to $1,000.
As president of the association, I am gratified to announce that the match of $1,000 was completed last week. On July 22, I brought a set of checks to the credit union and deposited them in the two accounts set up for each family. Each fund already has about $40,000 that will support the needs of the Perez and Valerio families. At least $2,000 of that is from Glen Park friends.
Later on Friday, Sally Ross, GPA membership secretary, and I went to Station 26 to give the crew our letter on the donations, and pay our respects. As many of you may know, there is table in the firehouse lobby with mementos for the two men, and a guest book with many notes.
I am honored to represent the generous thoughts and support of the Glen Park community with this effort.
Michael Rice
President, Glen Park Association