Dear IAFF Leader,
This is an urgent appeal directly from one IAFF leader to another. 
Thousands of our members who were on the frontlines during “Super Storm” Sandy had their personal lives completely destroyed or washed away by a massive storm while they were at work saving the lives and homes of others.
We already know of hundreds of members who suffered catastrophic loss of their homes and possessions, have been displaced and need direct financial assistance immediately.
Many are staying with relatives, friends and other IAFF families. They will be starting their lives once again from scratch, and we expect that number to go up significantly once we are able to reach all of our members in the affected areas from New Jersey to Massachusetts.
These are our sisters and brothers -- and they need our help desperately.
The IAFF Disaster Relief Fund is our 501c(3). It is part of our IAFF Charitable Foundation. As the Relief Fund did after Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast and after tornadoes devastated Joplin, Missouri, IAFF relief personnel are already on the ground providing direct financial assistance to our members in New York and New Jersey.
While I commit to all of you that every single member who suffered catastrophic loss will get the assistance they are entitled to from this IAFF and our Disaster Relief Fund, our Fund does not have sufficient funds to cover the massive scope of loss from this storm.
This is an URGENT call for your help with a generous tax deductible contribution on behalf of your affiliate to the IAFF Disaster Relief Fund.
The IAFF is picking up the administrative cost of this relief operation, so every penny of your contribution will go directly to helping IAFF members devastated by Sandy.
You can give online or you can send your contribution to:
IAFF Disaster Relief Fund - Sandy Relief
1750 New York Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20006
Let me be clear: This is the fund for our members. I know you’ve seen appeals from a number of funds out there raising money for fire fighters affected by Sandy. Beware of many of those efforts. Just like after 9/11, we have no control over nor do we have assurances that the money raised will be going to help IAFF members from those outside funds run by others. But all of you, through our union, have a stake in and have control over our Disaster Relief Fund.
Thank you for your consideration. We know this job won’t be done next week or even next month. And when the media changes its focus, and public attention turns to the next big story, the IAFF will still be there — for as long as it takes. Because in this business, we have each other’s backs.
Stay safe.
Harold A. Schaitberger
General President
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