Recent Accomplishments
Thanks to the generous support of our donors and the dedication of Team LCF, we have made significant strides over the past 10 years in addressing the unmet needs of many fire service communities. LCF also continues to provide vital funding for a range of essential initiatives.
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LCF has voted to commit 10% of Team LCF 2025 Boston Marathon fundraising to California Firefighter Peer Support Fund to help firefighters deal with the long-lasting PTSD effects of the tragic fires, and the recovery efforts to follow.
The Firefighter Michael Kennedy Last Call Foundation Memorial Endowment Fund at UMASS Chan Medical School: Established in 2024, this endowment ensures that medical professionals receive specialized training focused on the unique health challenges of firefighters. The fund supports education around the importance of early screenings and tests for conditions that on-the-job exposures make far more common among firefighters, as well as mental and emotional challenges that often go unrecognized. These are areas that the general public typically doesn’t face, and most doctors have not been trained to adequately address.
Along with the fire service and advocates representing health and environmental concerns, LCF supported the bill passed by the Massachusetts Legislature banning the use of PFAS in the manufacture of firefighters’ protective gear that contributes to occupational cancer, to take effect in 2027.
Provided a grant to a non-profit dedicated to firefighter and first responder mental health that offers 24-hour peer support through a talk/text help line and connects first responders to professional help, counseling or treatment centers; also assists with funding inpatient treatment.
Funded the purchase and installation of modern wireless communication headsets on apparatus for a suburban Massachusetts fire department, greatly improving radio communication among crews.
Funded the purchase for four fire departments of 9 Alarm Defender Brief undergarments specifically designed to protect firefighters and first responders from exposure to toxic, cancer causing particles.
Provided a grant to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network for portable on-site equipment to conduct skin cancer screenings at events for first responders.
Funded an updated communications services system for a New York State volunteer fire department to ensure reliable communication among first responders in emergency situations—pinpointing location and timely transmission of the conditions on the ground.
Funds granted to a Colorado fire district led to the implementation of a multi-year Community Wildfire Protection Plan, addressing wildfire response, hazard mitigation and community preparedness.
Provided funds for a Texas volunteer fire department to replace essential equipment, including aging hose line, outdated vehicle struts and acquire an airbag rescue system for first responders to safely extricate patients.
Provided funding for cleaning equipment for SCBAs, helmets, and facemasks for small departments that would otherwise not have the means.
Funded an exhaust system for a fire department that had no means to replace nonfunctioning aged equipment.
Funded critically needed fitness equipment for several municipal departments, allowing firefighters to keep up with essential exercise and workout routines.
Provided a grant to the Boston Fire Historical Society for the placement of historical markers across the City of Boston.
Past Accomplishments
Funded the meta-analysis of all fire service-related research being conducted by Dr. Sara Janke at the Center for Fire, Rescue, and EMS Health Research. This will be published on LCF web site in a user-friendly format.
Funded the development of an updated fire hose thermal resistance time-to failure test. Got test approval from UL and it has now been adopted by the NFPA. NOTE TO FIRE DEPARTMENTS: please ask for the “time-to failure test result” before purchasing a fire hose.
Pushed the fire hose manufacturing industry to apply today’s technologies to fire hose. Independently tested the Snap-tie Warrior (thermally resistant – won’t melt in heat) Fire Hose before the manufacturer brought it to market. LCF funded the purchase of Snap-tite Warrior fire hose for the City of Boston. LCF will continue to push for funding for every fire department to purchase this thermally far superior fire hose.
Supported research at Notre Dame by Dr. Graham Peaslee, provided the funding for independent confirmation of the study of PFAS (a known carcinogen) in PPE – bunker gear. PFAS is used in the manufacturing or supply chain and is found in alarming levels in firefighters Personal Protective Gear.
Funded University of Alabama PFAS dermal absorption study - Dr. Suzanne E. Lapi.
Funded the documentary – BURNED – PROTECTING THE PROTECTORS. The story of how a firefighter wife uncovered the truth about PPE - bunker gear, being saturated in carcinogenic chemicals in the manufacturing process or supply chain.
A grant from the Last Call Foundation funded DetecTogether ‘s creation of firefighter–specific Cancer Awareness, Early Detection and, Medical Self Advocating education program. This program is now being taught across the country.
Funding the Tufts University Research Project to identify currently available technologies able to be adapted to the fire service, including:
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Member tracking without GPS
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Fire ground mapping using thermal resistant drone
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Heat build-up tracking and warning of eminent flashover
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Imaging processing techniques for visibility through smoke and low light conditions.
Funded decontamination of fire houses, apparatus and gear exposed to COVID 19 Contamination across the Commonwealth.
Funded Boston Fire Department $25,000 for member heart scans. LCF helped fund reimbursement program to encourage participation and reduce out of pocket expenses.
Funded Boston Fire Department purchase and installation of exercise equipment at the BFD training facility on Moon Island.
Funded Westborough Fire Department Bunk Gear Cabinet Dryer.
Funding the study at MGH to investigate PTSD in the fire service.
Joined forces with Boston Fire Department, Pan-Mass Challenge Team and, together, directed the total funds raised by Team BFD specifically to firefighter related research at Dana Farber.
Funded FDNY One super-size extractor for washing bunker gear, two bunker gear dryers and two boot, helmet and SCBA decontamination machines for use at the Fire Academy.
Provided Engine Companies with on-scene decontamination kits to help prevent bringing heavily contaminated gear back to the firehouse.
Provided matching funds to Wilbraham Fire Department for extractor and bunker gear dryer.
Funded the purchase and proper training in the use of ballistic vests for Sturbridge firefighters.
Provided funding for four SCBA boot and glove cleaning machines to Boston Fire Department.
LCF-funded studies and research projects have various timelines. Some will require funding over several years, while others are close to publication.
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Because every firefighter is a hero every day.