The We Energies Foundation is awarding $100,000 to police, fire and medical first responders across the state through its fourth annual Rewarding Responders Grant program. The grants will be used to purchase life-saving equipment.
“It is our honor to support the brave men and women making our communities safer places for everyone,” said Beth Straka, president — We Energies Foundation. “This program’s true reward lies in what doesn’t happen — the lives that remain unchanged, the moments we never have to remember — because our first responders had the lifesaving tools needed to make a difference.”
Donations toward a brighter future
The Rewarding Responders Grant program is one of the many ways We Energies makes the safety of its employees and communities a critical focus every day.
Since 2020, the We Energies Foundation has awarded $300,000 to police, fire and emergency medical services agencies through this important program. Its grants have provided critical equipment and training to departments from the town of Paris to Land O’Lakes, helping their members enhance public safety in their communities.
This year’s grant recipients include the North Shore Fire Department, which is using its grant to purchase a hazardous gas detector and the Glendale Police Department, which is using its grant to purchase speed detection equipment.
“On behalf of the seven communities that we serve, we appreciate We Energies support in what we do,” said Robert Whitaker, North Shore fire chief.
Improving safety with important tools
The 2023 grant recipients are:
- Appleton Fire Department — Emergency medical services equipment
- Barron Maple Grove Fire Department — Natural gas detectors
- Bayside Police Department — Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Brampton Township Volunteer Fire Department — Water pumping equipment
- Town of Brookfield Police Department — AED
- Town of Burlington Fire Department — Emergency pagers for firefighters
- Caledonia Police Department — Thermal imaging device
- Campbellsport Police Department — Protective shield for officers
- Campbellsport Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal imaging cameras
- Cedarburg Fire Department — Multi-gas detection meter
- Cudahy Fire Department — Hazardous gas monitoring equipment
- Cudahy Police Department — Protect the SWAT team
- Fox Valley Metro Police Department — Transport safety system
- Franklin Police Department — AED
- Freedom Volunteer Fire Co. — Portable scene lighting
- Germantown Fire Department — Multi-gas detection meter
- Glendale Police Department — Vehicle speed detection equipment
- Grant County Sheriff’s Office — Emergency communication headset
- Greendale Police Department — AED
- Greenfield Police Department — Vehicle speed detection equipment
- Hales Corners Police Department — AED
- Hartland Police Department — Squad car video cameras
- Hewitt Area Fire Department — Rescue tools for lifting
- Iron Mountain Fire Department — Rope and confined space rescue equipment
- Ironwood Township Fire Department — Firefighter breathing apparatuses
- Town of Ixonia Fire Department — Multi-loop rescue strap
- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office — Emergency scene lighting
- Land O’Lakes Volunteer Fire Department — AED
- Marshfield Fire and Rescue Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Village of New Glarus Police Department — Emergency response clothing
- New London First Responders — EMS license training and recertification
- Niagara Police Department — Emergency communication equipment
- North Shore Fire Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Oakfield Fire Department — Structural firefighting gloves
- Oconto Falls Police Department — K-9 drug detection training kit
- Oconto Falls Volunteer Fire Department — Emergency scene lighting
- Town of Paris Fire and Rescue — Thermal imaging camera
- Pewaukee Fire Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Phelps Volunteer Fire Department — Water pump for brush truck
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office — Medical and safety supplies for animal emergency responses
- Presque Isle Volunteer Fire Department — AED units and training
- Town of Randall Fire Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Raymond Fire and Rescue — AED
- South Milwaukee Police Department — Personal protective equipment for officers
- Sparta Area Fire District — Multi-gas detection meter
- Summit Police Department — AED
- Tomah Firefighters Association — Hazardous gas detectors
- Tri-Township Fire Department — Fire hose and water nozzle
- Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department — Hazardous gas detectors
- Waukesha Fire Department — Electric vehicle emergency plug
- Wautoma Area Fire District — Multi-gas detection meter
- West Allis Police Department — 911 communication system upgrade
- Weyauwega Area Fire District — Water nozzle replacement
- Whitewater Fire and EMS — Electric vehicle emergency plug
- Whitewater Police Department — Lifesaving kits for critical incidents
- Wisconsin State Fair Park Police — Wearable safety lights
- Wood County Sheriff’s Department — Batteries for critical incident robot
Grants impact safety across Wisconsin
The We Energies Foundation created its Rewarding Responders Grant program in 2020 as part of its longstanding commitment to support public safety efforts. During that time, the grants have helped hundreds of agencies purchase critical equipment or vital training to strengthen safety in their communities.
Eligible emergency response agencies can apply for up to $2,000 in funding through the annual grant program. Agencies may receive a grant if they:
- Operate in the We Energies service area.
- Did not receive a grant during the previous year.
- Complete an online grant application.
- Demonstrate the equipment or training they will acquire is part of a well-planned effort to improve public safety. Grants also may be put toward unique, safety-related projects that are one-time efforts.