Muscular Dystrophy Association

Dear IAFF Members:

It's with deep gratitude that I express my awe at your extraordinary dedication to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For more than 50 years you've "filled your boot" to support MDA's programs that offer help and hope to people with neuromuscular diseases.

Fire fighters have given selflessly of their time and resources to help MDA, and it never ceases to gratify me that so many of you care so much about "my kids." The IAFF's tremendous support - especially its heroic, record-breaking efforts during the year-long celebration of our partnership in 2004 - has brought us closer to finding the means by which Muscular Dystrophy and related neuromuscular diseases will be successfully treated and cured. Credit for this magnificent achievement goes to IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger - and to each fire fighter who played a part.

As we start our second half-century together, your friendship means the world to me. You're always on MDA's front line, and it's thanks to fire fighters that victory is within reach.

Love and appreciation .

Jerry Lewis

National Chairman
Muscular Dystrophy Association

York County IAFF Local 2498 has participated in the MDA Fund Drives for more than 20 years and has been a member of the IAFF for over 30 years.

IAFF and MDA: A Proud Partnership

The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is the largest national sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). More than 265,000 members of the IAFF in the United States and Canada are pledged to saving lives, both as fire fighters and paramedics and as the strongest campaigners for the worldwide research efforts of MDA to eradicate 40 neuromuscular diseases. The contributions of the fire fighters also go towards MDA's summer camps for children, professional and public health education, and other programs.

As the greatest contributor to MDA, fire fighters are everywhere in the efforts of MDA to raise money. The IAFF is the biggest sponsor of MDA's Labor Day Telethon and it contributed a record breaking $18 million in year 2003 as a consequence of the overwhelming enthusiasm and contribution of tens and thousands of fire fighters and paramedics across the US and Canada. The IAFF raised this amount throughout the entire year through their passionate Fill the Boot campaigns, in which fire fighters greet motorists, shoppers and others and ask them to donate money to MDA. This year's upcoming IAFF-MDA events are expected to raise even more to cure these crushing illnesses.

The marriage between the devotion of fire fighters with the cause of MDA has emerged as one of the strongest example of selflessness in the history of charity, and IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger is committed to elevating this tradition to even higher levels. The IAFF is designing a plan to further expand and enhance the IAFF's relationship and role with MDA.

Over the ensuing decades, the commitment of the professional fire fighters to the cause of MDA has further elevated their status as extraordinary professionals who not only put their lives at stake to save citizens from ruthless flames, but also give their time to save the lives of the innocent from equally merciless neuromuscular diseases. The devotion of IAFF members has not only helped MDA, but also united fire fighters in a community where they share their team strength and brotherhood to give better meaning to lives and hope for the future.

General Information

The White Plains Flag

Emblazoned with the cap and staff as well as the sword of Justice, was captured from a New York militia in the fall of 1776 by German mercenaries fighting for England's King George.

The German written accounts belittled the American military skills, but these very same Hessians surrendered to General Washington less than 2 months later after the American victory at the Battle of Trenton.

"He that has done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged. "

- Benjamin Franklin