-- In an unprecedented effort to honor emergency personnel and volunteers from around the World, the Samaritan First Responders Society (SFRS) is establishing what may become the world and nation’s largest recognition program for First Responders, Veterans, Samaritans, Service Animals and their handlers as well as philanthropy individuals and/or charitable foundations. This nonprofit organization's cornerstone initiative, a prestigious global televised awards ceremony, aims to elevate public awareness of contributions from first responders, veterans, Samaritans, and other philanthropy & humanitarian contributions while providing tangible support to fallen heroes- first responders and their families and those affected by a major crisis or disaster.
Who Are the Samaritan First Responders Society?
The SFRS has emerged as a distinctive volunteer force in emergency services in the nonprofit sector, operating through three strategic channels:1). the global SFRS Awards Program, 2).Crisis & Support Teams (CSTs), a Team with an Emergency Medical Technician equipped with Advanced Telemedicine Equipment, and 3). direct financial assistance for Fallen Heroes & first responders and their families and others affected as a result of a disaster or line of duty injuries.
What sets the organization apart is its comprehensive and strategic donations from the Shannon M & Joel E. Foundation and other affiliations that align with the SFRS’ goals and partnerships- like the GlobalMed Telemedicine,GISGlobal Construction, FightCamp and Arbtron Investment Group,while adding other corporate sponsors who promote the Global SFRS Award Programs and other SFRS social programs that add visibly to its Global recognition brand.
The SFRS Global Awards Program (SGAP) presents honorees with platinum, gold, silver, and bronze-plated trophies, symbolizing achievement levels that parallel prestigious international awards categories from First Responders of the Year; Samaritan Spirit; Veteran Promise; Pawsitive (Service Animals & Handlers); Humanitarian Life-time Achievement Awards.
Additionally, the SFRS Volunteer Crisis & Support Teams (CSTs & ICSTs) international Teams- maintain an active group of volunteer presence in many states and countries providing necessary emergency response units, while the financial assistance program of gifts and/or stipend plans to distribute approximately $5 million in support to first responders and their families and others since its inception. Eventually, constructing Community-based SFRS Emergency Centers(SECs) for first responders, veterans, the elderly and others displaced by a disaster.
The Leadership Driving the Mission
Calvin Burton Sr., founder and president of the SFRS, and his Key Executive Staff bring decades of emergency management expertise to the organization. His track record includes coordinating responses to several major disasters, including the devastating Helene and Milton hurricanes & LA Wildfires where his teams and/or associates assisted more than 3,000 affected families.
Burton's vision extends beyond traditional recognition programs and includes international (ICSTs)Teams. He developed the SFRS Awards Show concept as a platform to showcase the human stories behind heroic acts. "These are ceremonies," Burton explains. "And they're opportunities to demonstrate how individual actions create lasting community impact. as first responders, veterans, and Samaritans and every day individuals working together during times of hardship or disaster- which we all witness in Western North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, and the California wildfires”.
The SFRS Awards Show: A National Stage for Heroes
The inaugural SFRS Global Awards Show, scheduled for broadcast on major networks in 2025, will feature categories including First Responder of the Year, The Samaritan Spirit Award, The Pawsitive Change Award, the Veterans Promise Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award for humanitarian contributions & Efforts.. The two-hour prime-time special will combine professional production values with documentary-style storytelling, highlighting both dramatic rescues and quiet acts of service, often giving posthumously at the cost of their own lives of these heroic individuals.
The show's format includes pre-recorded segments showcasing nominees in action, live presentations by notable public figures, and interactive elements allowing viewers to support featured causes directly through mobile devices. "The awards show will do more than honor heroes," Calvin Burton Sr. said. "It will inspire viewers to take action in their communities." with not only monetary contributions but also volunteering their time for a worthy cause”
Expanding the Vision Beyond U.S. Borders
The SFRS has initiated partnerships in Japan, Korea, Spain, and the United Kingdom etc. to establish International Crisis & Support Teams (ICSTs). These international agreements within that country that were formalized through legal memorandums of understanding with local emergency services, will enable rapid deployment of resources during international crises.
The organization's neutrality protocols ensure assistance reaches communities regardless of political or cultural boundaries. "Our goal is to build a network that connects communities through compassion and service and cooperation," Burton explains.
Overcoming Challenges and Leveraging Opportunities
The SFRS's ambitious agenda faces practical hurdles of acquiring Sponsors & Partnerships including the complex logistics of coordinating both national & international response teams and securing major network broadcasting partnerships for the Awards Show. However, the organization's financial trajectory suggests growing support, with revenue increasing 75 percent in the past year to reach a $12 million dollar goal. Each month,the SFRS Executive Staff continues to secure additional partnerships and sponsors with Fortune 500 companies in support of our Emergency Crisis & Support Operations and other nonprofit agendas.
Current initiatives include cultivating strategic alliances with corporations that align with our Mission Statement & Goals, fostering mutual collaborations that generate substantial financial support, diversifying innovative funding beyond traditional sources and philanthropic partnerships, while demonstrating effective accountability, as well as, implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy with the use of social media and a well-developed website and digital platform for communication especially during emergency resource coordination and establishing training programs for the SFRS Emergency Response and Emergency Medical Technicians with assistance from our global partners..
A Legacy of Courage and Community
The global vision of the SFRS represents a shift in how society recognizes and supports emergency responders and Samaritans. Through its combination of public recognition and practical emergency assistance, the organization has created a model for sustainable community-based volunteer service and support.
As the SFRS prepares to launch its Global & National Awards Programs, its impact continues to grow expeditiously. The organization has already trained more than 5,000 volunteers and established response protocols adopted by emergency management services across the country.
"We're honoring individuals and we're building a samaritan movement,” Burton says. Through its integrated approach to recognition and support, the SFRS is working to ensure that those who serve in times of crisis receive the acknowledgment and assistance they deserve.
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Contact Info:
Name: Calvin Burton, Sr.
Email: Send Email
Organization: Samaritan First Responders Society
Address: P.O. Box # 91283 Raleigh, NC 27675
Phone: (877) 508-8001, (561) 510-9293
Website: https://samaritanfirstresponderssociety.org/
Release ID: 89157501
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