The We Energies Foundation is awarding $100,000 to help local first responders purchase lifesaving equipment and strengthen public safety as part of its Rewarding Responders Grant program.
“We are honored to continue our support of public safety agencies and the invaluable impact they make every day,” said Beth Straka, president — We Energies Foundation. “The important tools we help provide our first responders — from vital medical devices to heavy-duty equipment — can be critical in keeping people and our communities safe.”
Including this year’s grants, the We Energies Foundation has now donated $500,000 to help police, fire and emergency medical services agencies improve public safety across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan since 2020.
Supporting safety and service to communities
We Energies focuses on safety for its employees, customers and communities every day. The We Energies Foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant program supports the agencies that also are committed to keeping everyone safe. The grants help local first responders purchase lifesaving equipment or training that allows their members to improve public safety.
This year’s grant recipients include the Oak Creek Fire Department, which used its grant to purchase water safety equipment, including personal flotation devices, rescue throw bags, throw rings and safety signage. The goal is to use these items at safety demonstrations in the community to improve water safety awareness.
“The generosity of the We Energies Foundation is more than financial support, it’s truly an investment in saving lives,” said Jeffrey Mallas, assistant fire chief of the Oak Creek Fire Department. “This impact will be felt by thousands of residents and visitors to Oak Creek.”
Grant recipients
The 2025 grant recipients are:
- Albany Community Volunteer Fire Department — Gas detector
- Alma Center Community Fire District — Hydrant bags for fires
- Browntown Cadiz Jordan Fire District — Gas detector
- Cashton Fire and First Responders — Turnout gear
- Cedarburg Fire Department — Cancer reduction equipment
- City of Augusta Police Department — Thermal imaging camera
- City of Cudahy Fire Department — Scene lighting
- City of Fort Atkinson Police Department — Wearable safety lights
- City of Franklin Fire Department — Gas detector
- City of Ishpeming Police Department — Trauma kits and medical supplies
- City of Kenosha Fire Department — Gas detector
- City of Waukesha Fire Department — Gas detector
- Columbus Fire Department — Gas detector
- Ellsworth Fire Department — New pagers
- Endeavor/Moundville Fire Department — Active shooter response equipment
- Florence Volunteer Fire Department — Leather fire boots
- Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office — Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Fremont-Wolf River Fire Department — Gas detector
- Glenbeulah Fire Department and First Responders — Wildland firefighting clothing
- Grant County Sheriff’s Office — AED
- Greenfield Fire Department — Sked rescue system
- Harrison Fire Rescue Department — Underwater communications equipment
- Kettle Moraine Fire District — Gas detector
- Milwaukee Police Department — Pedestrian safety equipment
- Monroe Rural Fire District — Gas detector
- Newald Fire Department — AED and gas detector
- Niagara Area Emergency Unit — Technology upgrade of patient care report computers
- Oak Creek Fire Department — Water safety equipment
- Oakfield Fire Department — Firefighting water nozzle
- Oconto Falls Volunteer Fire Department — Structural firefighting gloves and flashlights
- Palmyra Fire and Rescue — Thermal imaging camera and gas detector
- Phelps Volunteer Fire Department — Gas detector
- Random Lake Fire Department — Battery operated equipment
- Rochester Volunteer Fire Company — Training software
- Sharon Fire and Rescue — Fire hose
- Silver Creek Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal imaging
- Somers Fire and Rescue — Ice rescue suits
- Stannard Township/Bruce Crossing Volunteer Fire Department — Emergency plugs for electric vehicles (EVs)
- Sussex Fire Department — Gas detector
- Town of Brookfield Police Department — AED
- Town of Burlington Fire Department — Emergency plugs for EVs
- Town of Paris Fire and Rescue — Thermal imaging
- Town of Randall Fire Department — Firefighting gloves
- Village of Big Bend Police Department — Ballistic shield
- Village of East Troy Police Department — Public safety barricades
- Village of Fox Point Police Department — Crime scene camera
- Village of Greendale Police Department — AED
- Village of Pewaukee Police Department — Wearable safety lights
- Village of Salem Lakes Fire Department — Gas detector
- Village of Williams Bay Police Department — Bicycle patrol initiative
- Wauwatosa Police Department — Training target
- West Bend Police Department — Special Response Team equipment
- Weyauwega Area Fire District — Gas detector
- Weyerhaeuser Fire Department — Gas detector
The We Energies Foundation offers its Rewarding Responders Grant each year to emergency response agencies that operate in the We Energies service area. Eligible agencies can apply for up to $2,000 in funding through the grant. Since the program began, the We Energies Foundation has helped hundreds of individual agencies through the grant.