NEW YORK, NY – For the fourth year, Amboy, Illinois based Vanguard Safety Wear and Dinges Fire Company made the trek to New York, New York to present a sizeable check to the family of fallen FDNY 9/11 Firefighter Michael Kiefer. On June 21, Vanguard Safety Wear presented a $25,000 to the Michael Kiefer Fund, benefiting the FDNY Fire Family Transport Foundation and the NY Firefighter Burn Center. Over the past 5 years, VSW has donated over $60,000 to this foundation.

More than 20 years ago, on September 11th, 2001, the World Trade Center in New York City was viciously attacked by a hateful foreign enemy. That day the Kiefer family lost its only son and brother, 25 year old FDNY FF Michael Kiefer, who was assigned to Ladder 132 in Brooklyn, New York. To help celebrate Michael’s life and keep his memory alive, his family created the FDNY FF Michael Kiefer Fund with a goal to continue to help others the way Michael would if he was still here.

Vanguard Safety Wear’s donation will go directly towards purchasing a transport van, in Michael’s name, that will carry sick and injured FDNY firefighters to doctor’s appointments.

“I am forever grateful for the generosity of Vanguard Safety Wear for its donation and for always remembering Michael,” said Michael’s Sister Kerri Kiefer-Viverito. “From a very young age Michael always wanted to pass by the firehouse and then one day his dream came true. Vanguard Safety Wear’s donation truly makes me feel so proud to be Michael’s sister. I know what an amazing person Michael was, but when I see others realizing that and continuing to honor his legacy, it makes me smile.”

“For Vanguard Safety Wear, the effort is particularly personal as Michael’s brother-in-law is a friend of mine and currently an FDNY member,” said Vanguard Safety Wear President Andy Shapiro. “I, myself was in Manhattan on 9/11 while tragically, mine and other surrounding suburban communities suffered many victims on that day. So, while the memories of 9/11 will no doubt remain vivid in our minds, we strive to maintain the awareness for others and continue to honor the memory of the thousands that perished that day and particularly the truly heroic first responders.

Each pair of Vanguard Safety Wear firefighting gloves bears the initials “MK,” keeping Michael’s name alive in the fire service serving as a reminder to “Never Forget.”

To learn more about the Michael Kiefer Fund and to make a donation, visit www.fdnyffmichaelkieferfund.com. 

For more information on Vanguard Safety Wear, visit vanguardsafetywear.com or follow on “Instagram” or “Facebook”. 

ABOUT VANGUARD SAFETY WEAR

After years of using products that could not withstand the torture handed out by today’s fire service professionals while also providing top level performance, three leaders in the fire service industry set out on a mission to advance the particularly challenging hand protection category. Combining with a street level urban firefighter, a textile/apparel veteran and an experienced fire service equipment distributor; Vanguard Safety Wear was born to bring to the field the continuous improvement of firefighting and extrication gloves. The Vanguard Safety Wear team combines all the crucial expertise needed to design/develop, field test, produce and ultimately improve personal protective equipment in order to provide unparalleled products for the demanding tasks of firefighting and rescue services.