A question that is often asked amongst those who work in the emergency response community is “Can one person make a difference?” After serving in the emergency response community for over 40 years, I would say that the answer is an unequivocal “YES.” Jim Yvorra was a Deputy Chief with the Berwyn Heights (Maryland) Volunteer Fire Department and a nationally recognized author and editor in the fields of fire, hazardous materials, and emergency medical services. Jimmy died in the line of duty when he was accidentally struck by a car while investigating an accident scene on Interstate 95 near Washington, D.C., in January 1988. However, both his legacy and his impact continue to this day.
In this era of ever increasing college costs and student loan debt, there are still a large number of emergency responders who do not take advantage of scholarship opportunities such as the YLD Foundation. Thanks to our sponsors, donors, and our hard working “volunteer” Board and Committee members, we have given away $125,500 in scholarships since Jimmy’s passing. Any active duty career, volunteer or military member of fire, rescue, HazMat, or emergency medical services can apply. Also, funding isn’t limited to higher education; if you have a special project (e.g., fire prevention, community outreach) that can make a difference, then consider submitting an application.
More details are available at www.yld.org.
