25 Main Line Responders To Be Honored At Hometown Hero Event

Scholarships totaling nearly $50,000 will be awarded to 25 Main Line area first responders to honor their dedication to ensuring public safety at a special event on Tuesday, June 12.

At 6:30 p.m. June 12, the Main Line Chamber Foundation will host the 9th Annual "Celebration of Hometown Heroes" in the Board Room of the Lower Merion Township Administration Building.

The 25 individuals receiving the scholarship funds represent 10 responder organizations around the Main Line.

Each will get a cut of $45,500 in funding from the event.

Awardees are:

• Merion Fire Company of Ardmore – Ardmore
  
  • Padraig Black
  • Connor Black
  • Jermaine Brinkley
  • Ruel Brown
  • Anne Theresa McMullin
  • Brennan Verges
• Penn Wynne Fire Company – Wynnewood
  
  • Tyrone Barnes
  • Drew Kopicki
  • Ethan Mazer
• Berwyn Fire Company – Berwyn
  
  • Eamon Brazunas
  • Ryan Peterson (also of the Collegeville Fire Company)
  • Andrew Ritter (also of the Collegeville Fire Company)
  • Matthew Smith-Tucker
• Malvern Fire Company – Malvern
  
  • Randall Patton
• Oakmont Fire Company – Havertown
  
  • Severino Butera Addesso
  • Mark Christake
  • Matthew Speers
• Bryn Mawr Fire Company – Bryn Mawr
  
  • Michael Corbett
  • Kieran Dolan
• Gladwyne Fire Company – Gladwyne
  
  • Justin Fusaro
  • Pearce Flanagan
• Newtown Square Fire Company – Newtown Square
  
  • Joseph Certo
• Narberth Ambulance – Ardmore
• Aaron Miller
• Alexander Mintzer
• Pearce Flanagan
• Llanerch Fire Company – Havertown
  
  • Nicole Harnwell

A special tradition that began in 2011 will continue, as the Thomas J. Hays Memorial Scholarships will be presented in honor of a young firefighter with the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore who died after going out on a call. Three Thomas J. Hays Memorial Scholarships will be awarded this year to outstanding volunteer firefighters.

The recipients of the Thomas J. Hays award will each receive a $5,000 scholarship at the Celebration of Hometown Heroes event. Thanks to an anonymous donor, a $10,000 Community Service Leadership Scholarship also will be awarded.

The Main Line Chamber Foundation will have given out more than $435,500 in scholarships to area students, the vast majority of which attend local colleges and universities after the 2018 scholarships are distributed. Celebration of Hometown Heroes was created to draw attention to and show appreciation for the volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians who selflessly serve the entire Main Line area.

"The citizens who receive these scholarships are among the first responders, day or night, when emergencies occur throughout the Main Line area," said John Durso, chairman of The Main Line Chamber Foundation Board of Directors. "Residents of the Main Line often don’t realize what an important role these volunteers play in our communities, saving taxpayers millions of dollars that might otherwise go to fund professional emergency responders. We believe it is important to celebrate their service and distribute the scholarship awards at a public ceremony that can shine a light on their invaluable contributions."

And those who support their local first responders should save the date of Sept. 9, as it will bring the 2018 Main Line Run/Walk fundraiser to the Main Line for the 21st year.

The 5K run and 1.5 mile walk will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9. Check out the course here.

Individual and team registration costs $20 until July 4 and $25 until Sept. 9. On race day the cost goes up to $30. Register online here.

"The Main Line Chamber Foundation Scholarship Program and Giant/Main Line Run/Walk provide residents and businesses with a way to show their appreciation for volunteer firefighters and encourages their continued service," said Bernard Dagenais, President of the Foundation and CEO of The Main Line Chamber of Commerce. "These funds are important to these emergency responders, helping to ensure they have good jobs as they typically continue their volunteer services for years to come."

The Lower Merion Township Building is located at 75 E. Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore.

Congratulations and thank you to these outstanding Main Line responders!

Image via Shutterstock