Key points at a glance

  • The We Energies Foundation is providing $150,000 through its Rewarding Responders Grant — up from $100,000 last year.
  • The funding is helping nearly 80 agencies receive lifesaving equipment or training.
  • Grants are part of We Energies’ focus on enhancing safety.

The We Energies Foundation is strengthening its commitment to first responders with $150,000 in grants to help police, fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies purchase lifesaving equipment and improve safety in communities across Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This is the largest donation ever made as part of the foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant program.

“We are honored to support the everyday heroes in our communities and their relentless dedication to keeping everyone safe,” said Beth Straka, president — We Energies Foundation. “These grants mean more than just new equipment or one-time training sessions. Their true impact is felt when seconds are saved, damage is prevented and people’s lives return to normal because first responders had the tools they needed to prevent serious harm.”

Including this year’s grants, the We Energies Foundation has now donated more than $650,000 to help first responders improve public safety since the program began in 2020.

Helping first responders enhance safety for everyone

We Energies focuses on safety for its employees, customers and communities every day. The We Energies Foundation’s Rewarding Responders Grant program supports local first responders who share this commitment to keeping everyone safe.

The program’s grants help police, fire and EMS agencies invest in equipment and training. This year’s grants are helping first responders receive dozens of critical tools, from flashlights and fire helmets to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and thermal imaging cameras.

New lifesaving equipment presented

The We Energies Foundation selected the Germantown Fire Department as one of this year’s grant recipients, unveiling a new multi-gas detector Wednesday. Multi-gas detectors are used to determine if there is carbon monoxide or a natural gas leak in a home or business. By replacing existing gas detectors, the fire department can maximize reliability and accuracy, which will help keep community members safe for years to come.

Grant recipients

This year, 77 first response agencies received grants. The 2026 grant recipients are:

  • Adell Volunteer Fire Department — Light tower
  • Allenton Volunteer Fire Department — Multi-gas detector and fire suppression equipment for electric vehicles (EVs)
  • Amasa Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera and turnout gear
  • Appleton Fire Department — Heavy-duty rescue saws and tools
  • Appleton Police Department — Traffic speed detection device
  • Auburndale Fire Department — Extrication equipment
  • Barron Maple Grove Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Bay Ambulance — Patient assessment equipment
  • Beaver Dam Fire and Rescue Department — Extrication equipment
  • Belgium Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Biron Volunteer Fire Department — Firefighting door prop for training
  • Caledonia Police Department — Camera
  • Campbellsport Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera
  • Caspian Gaastra Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera
  • Cedar Grove Fire Department — BlitzFire portable monitor
  • Chili Fremont Fire and Rescue — Fire gloves and hoods
  • City of Brookfield Police Department — Flashlights
  • City of Burlington Fire Department — Multi-gas detectors
  • City of Crystal Falls Police Department — Radios
  • City of Franklin Police Department — Gas mask kits
  • City of Ishpeming Fire Department — AED
  • City of Lake Mills Fire Department — Armor vest and ballistic helmets
  • City of Port Washington Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • City of Sun Prairie Police Department — Safety restraint device
  • City of Wisconsin Rapids Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Clinton Fire Protection District — Fire helmets
  • Columbus Area EMS Group — Pediatric restraint for EMS cots
  • Crystal Falls Township Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera
  • Cuba City Fire Department — AED
  • Dale Fire & Rescue — EMS equipment
  • Embarrass Volunteer Fireman’s Association — UTV tracks
  • Evansville Fire District — Thermal imaging camera
  • Faithorn Township — Personal alert safety system
  • Freedom Volunteer Fire Company — Chainsaw
  • Germantown Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Glendale Police Department — Indoor drone
  • Hartland Police Department — Speed detector
  • Iron Ridge Fire Department — Flashlights
  • Jackson Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera
  • Kingsford Public Safety Department — AED
  • Lancaster Fire Department — Safety vests, lights and glasses
  • Little Chute Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Marquette Township Fire and Rescue — Scene safety and water rescue equipment
  • Marshall Volunteer Fire Department — Power tools
  • Mayville EMS — Pagers
  • Mid-county Rescue Squad — Stretcher
  • Mount Pleasant Police Department — Medical kits
  • Muscoda EMS — Portable radios
  • Neillsville Fire Department — Thermal imaging camera
  • New London First Responders — Medical equipment and supplies
  • Norway City Police Department — Taser and rifle optics
  • Norway Fire Department — IV bag warmer and ambulance refrigerator
  • Ozaukee Central Fire Department — Safety cones
  • Plainfield Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Richfield Fire Department — Guardian angel lights
  • Richland Center Fire Department — Decontamination equipment
  • Rudolph Volunteer Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Saxeville Springwater Volunteer Fire Department — Pagers and radios
  • Seymour EMS — CPR device
  • Siren Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • South Shore Fire Department — EV plug
  • STAR Ambulance — Radios
  • Tichigan Volunteer Fire Company — Boots, gloves and coats
  • Town of Brookfield Fire Department — EV plug and personal voltage detectors
  • Town of Buchanan Fire and Rescue — Multi-gas detectors
  • Town of Waterford Police Department — Guardian angel lights
  • Town of Winchester Fire Department — Turnout gear
  • Vandenbroek-Kaukauna Fire and Rescue — Ice rescue boat
  • Village of Merton Fire Department — Multi-gas detector
  • Village of Mukwonago Police Department — Medical kits and AED
  • Village of Palmyra Police Department — Ballistic shield
  • Village of Whitefish Bay Police Department — Rumble siren
  • Waterloo Fire and Rescue — Multi-gas detector
  • Waubeka Fire Department — Fire hoods
  • Western Lakes Fire District — Multi-gas detector
  • Whitewater Fire and EMS — Multi-gas detector

About the Rewarding Responders Grant

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.