Montana Community Foundation and AT&T announced the recipients for AT&T Public Safety Hero funding for 2020. The awards totaled more than $12,000.

The AT&T Public Safety Hero Scholarship provides scholarship support to individuals training for careers and long-term volunteer work as first responders. Organizations across Montana in public safety applied to receive funding. This year's recipieints include:

• Lincoln Rural Fire District
• Libby Volunteer Ambulance Service, Inc
• Jefferson City Volunteer Fire Department
• Hebgen Basin Fire District
• Golden Valley County Ambulance
• Blaine 1, Inc.

Scholarship recipients applied through the Montana Community Foundation. Each organization received $2,000 to enhance a unique skill based on their organization or department’s needs. Applicants were required to indicate during the application process how they would use the funding.

Hebgen Basin Fire District plans to use the funding to send their team to the Ice Rescue training at the White Water Rescue Institute. In a community know for ice fishing and snowmobiling, ice rescue training will really benefit their community in the event of an emergency since winter is their longest season.

Blaine 1, Inc. hopes this funding will encourage more individuals in their community to get involved as first responders as it eliminates the financial burden of attending community EMT classes in January. Blaine 1 Ambulance Service, in Chinook, is manned by a volunteer crew of 15 members who serve an area of 2500+ square miles and respond to approximately 220 calls per year.

“Keeping first responders highly trained and skilled comes with challenges in our state,” said Mary Rutherford, president and chief executive officer of the Montana Community Foundation. “A large percentage of our first responders and firefighters are volunteers, so ensuring that they have access to advanced training and education is critical given the job they are expected to do. Contributions from companies like AT&T ensure we’re able to continue providing this valuable resource to these organizations.”

“We know how vital public safety professionals and volunteers are in Montana,” said Tara Thue, AT&T president, mountain west states. “AT&T has the honor to contribute to these specialized training opportunities that strengthen our public safety organizations and individuals who are on the front lines.”

About Philanthropy & Social Innovation at AT&T

AT&T Inc. is committed to advancing education, strengthening communities and improving lives. Through its community initiatives, AT&T has a long history of investing in projects that create learning opportunities; promote academic and economic achievement; or address community needs. The company’s signature philanthropic initiative, AT&T Aspire, drives innovation in education to promote student success in school and beyond. With a financial commitment of $600 million since 2008, AT&T is leveraging technology, relationships and social innovation to help all students make their biggest dreams a reality.