News

TALLEYVILLE FIRE COMPANY & RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DELAWARE INITIATE HEROE’S PROGRAM The Talleyville Fire Company and the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware have implemented the Heroe’s Program, to bring a little sunshine in to the life of critically ill children and adolescents. Dan Kiley, President of the Talleyville Fire Company and Tom, Looney Fire chief in association with Pam Cornforth, Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, announced the Heroe’s Program on Monday, August 22 with the selection of the first candidate for the program, Zachary Cook of Westville Florida. Zachary and his mother Kimberly have been in residence at the Ronald McDonald House for approximately three months while Zachary was undergoing treatment at the Nemours/Alfred I. Dupont Hospital for Children. Zachary was picked up at the Ronald McDonald House on one of the fire engines from Talleyville, given a tour of the fire station and had lunch with the firefighetrs. Zachary was presented with a plaque recognizing the struggles and difficulties he has faced during the challenges during his treatment, just like the struggles and difficulties that the firefighters face on a day to day basis, making Zachary a hero in the eyes of the firefighters. In addition, Zachary was made a Special Member of the Talleyville Fire Company with his mother Kimberly pinning on his badge and then Tom Looney, Fire Chief and Steve Catalano, Assistant Fire Chief and Program Manager for the Heroe’s Program presenting Zachary with a fire helmet with his name and date inscribed on the brim. Zachary was then taken to Crown Trophy on Concord Pike where Jim & Robin Soutar, owners, had Zachary build a trophy of his design, commemorating the occasion. Closing out the program for that day, Zachary was given a ride on a Talleyville fire engine on his way back to the Ronald McDonald House. Dan Kiley, President of the Talleyville Fire Company, and Tom Looney, Fire Chief, stated that the Hero’e Program came about after noticing a child at a Thanksgiving church service, obviously undergoing medical treatment, deciding that if the Talleyville Fire Company could bring a little sunshine into a child’s life under such circumstances, then it would be a great program. While starting at the Ronald McDonald House, where children and families are in residence during the child’s treatment at the Nemours Foundation, the Heroe’s Program is open to any child or adolescent, who may reside in the Primary Response Area of the Talleyville Fire Company. Our objective is to have the program grow into other communities of the respective fire companies. According to Kiley, all of the churches in the Talleyville Primary Response Area have received brochures describing the program and asking the pastors, ministers, rabbis, etc. to be on the alert for any members of their congregations, who may benefit from the Hero’s Program. Anyone wanting additional information on the Heroe’s Program or to nominate a candidate for the program, contact Dan Kiley at (3202) 478-0843.