TERRY FARRELL FIREFIGHTERS FUND OF CALIFORNIA

"SUPPORTING FIREFIGHTERS WHO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES"

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund of California is a 501(c)(3) CA-ID #3173153, FED-ID #26-4126595, non-profit organization dedicated to providing firefighters and their families with financial support, fundrasing assistance and/or educational scholarships in the event of a LODD, signifigant injury or illness. 

 IMPORTANT NOTICE: ALL FUNDS RAISED IN CALIFORNIA... STAYS IN CALIFORNIA!!

On behalf of the original Terry Farrell Fund in New York, the California Chapter directly coordinates with Colorado and Arizona and can assist any Western Unites States chapter.  Please contact us if you are interested in establishing a chapter in your area/state. 

The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund was established in memory of Terry Farrell, a decorated member of Rescue 4/FDNY and Chief of the Dix Hills Volunteer Fire Department.  Terry, along with 342 of his brothers, perished on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center attack..  For more information see History of the Fund.

In January, 2007 after reading a Firehouse.com article featuring the Limited Edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottle, Captain Jim Colston of San Marcos Fire Department in Southern California contacted the Terry Farrell Fund.  Brain Farrell, Terry's brother and Chairman of the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund immediately responded.  Through a series of emails and assistance from a local distributor for Jim Beam, a handful of the limited first edition bottles arrived in Southern California.  The bottles were an instant success and, on behalf of the San Marcos Professional Firefighters Union Local 4184, a $500 check was sent to the Terry Farrell Fund in New York.  As word of the bottles spread the demand for them also increased.  Jim continued to work with Brian Farrell to obtain more bottles.  Unknowingly, the beginning of a West Coast partnership with the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund was formed.  Check out the History of the Fund page to see how the limited edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottle was created.

Later that year in September, Kieran Farrell, also a brother of Terry, and Captain Paul Heglund from Rescue 4 FDNY ret, arrived to be guests of honor at an annual 9/11 charity softball tournament hosted by the Escondido Firefighters Union Local 3842 in Escondido California.  One of the 9/11 event coordinators was Mike O'Connor, an Escondido Fire Engineer and New York native.  Mike had previously coordinated several FDNY fundraising events including traveling across the country in a RV picking up donations and hand delivering them to a FDNY fire station in "the Heart of Harlem" - Engine 37 and Ladder 40 on September 26th, 2001.  In 2002, Mike raised enough money and flew several members from the Harlem E37/L40 to play in Escondido's annual softball tournament.  Now in 2007, family and friends of Terry Farrell were at the charity event and orders for the limited second edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottles were on fire.

Seeing the potential for growth and National marketing, Brian Farrell worked feverishly with the Jim Beam folks to expand the Limited Edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottles nationally.  Brian was helped by family members FDNY firefighters and family friends including Bob Franck, an Assistant Fire Marshal for Redondo Beach Fire Department in Los Angeles County California.

In 2008, approval to test market the limited third edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottle was made and several cases were sent to Southern California.  Within 30-days all of the cases were sold.  The success of the limited edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottles solidified the continued support from the West Coast firefighting community in honoring the FDNY heroes lost on 9/11.  In support of the California effort, FDNY Rescue 4 Firefighters Rich Schmidt and John Gaine were guests of honor at the 2008 charity softball tournament in Escondido.  Rich and John not only worked alongside Terry on Rescue 4 in Queens, New York, they are members of the National Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund Board of Directors.  John and Rich are also seen on all 2009 promotional posters and videos! 

In a response to the overwhelming national support, Jim Beam proudly announced the limited fourth edition Terry Farrell / Jim Beam bottle with expansion to 23 states including California!  10,000 cases arrived and were sold by February 2010!

In October of 2008, with the commitment from Jim Beam and the support from the Terry Farrell Fund, a California Chapter was established and dedicated to California firefighters.  Bob Franck, Mike O'Connor and Jim Colston were selected at the Board of Directors.  By July 2009, the Board of Directors expanded to five as Craig Tebbe and Andy Yamamoto were also selected to the board.

As of December 31st, 2009, the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund of California has raised $30,000 and donated 100% of these funds to California firefighters and their families.  This money assisted families of LODD's as well as seriously injured firefighters.  In 2010, the chapter plans to launch a scholarship program for anyone with a family member involved in the California fire service and impliment a State wide Bone Marrow Donor program.

If you or someone you know want to be part of the Terry Farrell organization, Contact us!