August 3, 2020 - Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company, and Volunteer Firemen’s Insurance Services of Texas (VFIS of Texas) will be awarding a total of $500,000 to nonprofit emergency service organizations across Texas through two separate grant programs. $200,000 will be designated for a financial relief grant program to help provide funding assistance to emergency service organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and $300,000 will support these organizations in investing in their team’s health and wellness.
Grant applications for a financial relief grant ($2,500 per organization) will open on August 10 and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications for health and wellness grants will be open from September 1 through December 31 and grants will be awarded the first quarter of 2021.
Texas Mutual, the state’s leading provider of workers’ compensation insurance, and VFIS of Texas partner with the State Firefighters’ & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas to manage the application process and select grant recipients.
“Our emergency responders are essential workers who come to our aid in times of need, and this is our chance to support them in theirs,” said Barbara Marzean, president of VFIS of Texas. “Now more than ever, these grants will continue to support the crucial work of nonprofit emergency service organizations and help take care of emergency service responders across the state.”
Texas Mutual and VFIS of Texas have awarded safety and wellness grants to emergency responders throughout the state since 2013. This year, they expanded their funding to include a grant program specifically to assist in the financial recovery of emergency responder organizations, as result of COVID-19. These new grants will not be restricted to a specific use other than to provide much-needed funding to the organization. During this unprecedented time, many emergency service organizations are facing critical funding needs because they are not able to conduct their traditional fundraisers.
“We recognize the challenges that many emergency responders are facing and know that these grants will help fill an important need that will allow them to continue to serve our communities,” said Rich Gergasko, president and CEO of Texas Mutual. “A top priority at Texas Mutual is our commitment to safety, so it’s our honor to support emergency service response teams that have the same commitment.”
For more information about the grants and how to apply, visit https://www.vfistx.com/financial-relief-grant.html and https://www.vfistx.com/health-and-wellness-grant.html.
