LION Apparel stepped up its assistance to firefighters in developing countries by paying shipping expenses for donated firefighting gear
DAYTON, Ohio (June, 2014)— As part of its growing partnership inaugurated in January of this year, LION Apparel has committed to help the International Fire Relief Mission ship donated fire gear to firefighters around the world. LION will help moving the gear from regional collection sites to a central warehouse and from there to fire departments in in underserved international markets.
“LION knows logistics, and it seemed only natural,” said Steve Schwartz, LION’s CEO. “The ability to work with IFRM and reach out to new markets – it’s a great opportunity for us and one that will help us support firefighters around the world.”
International Fire Relief Mission President and CEO Ron Gruening said this is a high-impact commitment that will improve firefighter safety.
“One of the biggest barriers we have to helping firefighters in developing countries is the cost of moving the donated goods,” Gruening said. “LION’s generosity means IFRM can do more to equip and educate firefighters who have the same passion to serve as their U.S. counterparts, but with little equipment.”
LION and IFRM entered a partnership in January that helps the LION team extend its philanthropic reach. IFRM collects used firefighting equipment – sometimes reconditioned by LION – that can replace old, inadequate gear or even provide needed gear where none is currently available. One IFRM delivery can fully outfit more than 200 firefighters with tools, PPE, SCBA and more.
“It’s a true win-win,” said Schwartz. “Working with IFRM we can help dedicated fire departments while exploring new markets crucial to the company’s long-term international growth.”
About LION
LION is a family owned, global business headquartered in Dayton, Ohio that has been operating continuously since 1898. Municipal, state, federal and military agencies are its primary customers throughout the world. Its mission is to fulfill its customers’ personal safety, readiness and identity needs with innovative, game-changing solutions.
LION is the world’s largest supplier of structural fire personal protective clothing for first responders, as well as a leading provider of cutting-edge training products and facilities through its BullEx and HAAGEN companies. Through traditional contracting and public-private partnership arrangements, customers rely on LION TotalCare and LION LVI to manage the lifecycle of their uniforms, protective equipment and training products. For more information please visit our website at http://www.lionprotects.com
About the International Fire Relief Mission
The International Fire Relief Mission is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, who’s mission is to collect donated new or used fire and EMS equipment, deliver it to fire departments in developing nations and educate members of those fire departments on the equipment’s safe and proper use. IFRM is a nonprofit, nonreligious, nonpolitical group dedicated to saving firefighter and civilian lives. IFRM members do not draw a salary and all of the money raised is used to fulfilling the group’s mission. For more information, please visit its website at www.IFRM2007.com.