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Community Corner

Foundation Grant Helps Fire Department Replace Exercise Equipment

The Investors Foundation, which awards charitable funding to nonprofit organizations in the communities served by Investors Bank, has announced a grant of $4,880 to the Millburn Fire Department.

Established in 1876 as Volunteer Company 1, the Millburn Fire Department today is staffed by 47 career firefighters and 15 volunteers operating out of two stations and responding to more than 2,000 calls annually.  The Department is unique in the state for its innovative wellness program.

“Over the past seven years, the Millburn Fire Department has developed a health and wellness program that has not only reduced on-the-job injuries, but has raised morale within our platoons,” explained J. Michael Roberts, Chief of the Department.  “We have a personal trainer who visits five times a year and runs each crew through a regimen of competitive exercise programs, and we regularly bring in nutritionists and other expert speakers for educational presentations.  To my knowledge, we are the only fire department in the state to have a mandatory workout policy with individualized workout programs designed by a personal trainer.”

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The grant funds will be used to replace two outdated, sixteen-year-old cross circuit elliptical machines with new state-of-the-art models.  In 2009, the Foundation provided a similar grant to replace the Department’s treadmill.

“We are tremendously grateful for the continued friendship of the Investors Foundation,” said Chief Roberts.  “Their generosity will help ensure that our brave crews will be physically and mentally prepared to face every challenge.”

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“For nearly 140 years, the Millburn Fire Department has been vigilantly protecting a community of more than 20,000 residents,” said Investors Bank President and CEO Kevin Cummings.  “Our firefighters have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the world, and they deserve our support.”

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