MEDIA RELEASE

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – The13th Annual Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation Anniversary Benefit Awards Dinner/Silent Auction will be held this year on Saturday, September 4, at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, at Mauna Lani Resort.

The event raises funds to assist in the purchase of much needed rescue emergency equipment and training for the Hawaii County Fire Department and honors exceptional Hawaii County Fire Department personnel for meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty.

The silent auction will start at 4:30 p.m., followed by the awards dinner at 6 p.m. Sixteen Hawaii County firefighters who have performed meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty will be honored – Fire Captain Michael Andrade, Fire Rescue Specialist Chadwick Chun Fat, Fire Rescue Specialist Jeffrey Loo, Chopper 1 Pilot Paul Darryl, Acting Fire Captain Gifford Matsuoka, Fire Equipment Operator/MITC Justin Yamamoto, Fire Rescue Specialist Adam Ranne, Fire Rescue Specialist Dusty Frechette, A/Fire Rescue Specialist Joel Tessier, Pilot Joe Alan, Fire Captain Steve Loyola, Fire Equipment Operator Bill Bergin, MICT Kamaki Aiona, Emergency Medical Technician David Schad, Fire Fighter James Young, amd Fire Fighter Mathew Pi.

This year’s silent auction includes opportunities to bid on stays at exclusive International Fairmont Hotels, and other 5-star resort destinations; collector items including a custom made Koa long board, a large hand-crafted wooden vessel by artist Gregg Smith, a University of Texas swim cap signed by the Olympic swim team and coaches; watercolors and oils by famed local artists; rounds of golf at Big Island courses; gift certificates to outstanding restaurants and a huge array of activities. Cost to attend is $80 per person, inclusive. Tables of 10 are available for purchase; patrons may also choose to sponsor dinners for one or more firefighters and their spouses.

For dinner reservations, call The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation at 329-8067. The Fairmont Orchid is partnering with the Foundation for this gala evening, offering complimentary parking and a special room rate for the weekend.

Proceeds from the event will help to purchase new and updated equipment for Hawaii County’s fire/rescue teams, including cold weather gear for mountain rescues, pulleys, harnesses, and night vision goggles for the helicopter pilots. In the last 12 years the Foundation – a 501©3 non-profit previously under the umbrella of the Hawaii Community Foundation –has raised more than $500,000.

Laura Mallery-Sayre and her husband Dr. Frank Sayre established the Foundation. The Foundation works closely with Fire Chief Darryl J. Oliveira to support the needs of the County Fire Department. Last year, the fundraiser helped to provide six rescue surf boards, four automatic defibrillators, six weather-proof binoculars, nine megaphones, and training programs for the Water Safety Division. In addition a new split-apart stretcher and a new customized boat trailer were purchased for the Kailua station’s rescue boat and a Jaws of Life was purchased for the Hilo station. “This community effort is helping to keep our first responders safe and enables them to be even more effective in serving our needs,” said Mallery-Sayre. “We urge everyone to attend this meaningful event and to support our Hawaii County Fire Department.”

For more information on the Foundation, visit www.DanielSayreFoundation.com.