The Juneau Volunteer Fire Department recently partnered with the Juneau Community Foundation to establish the Juneau Volunteer Firefighters’ Youth Activity Fund as a way to increase opportunities for Juneau’s youth. Through the fund, the JVFD will offer free swims for children and youth at the Augustus Brown Swimming Pool on a regular basis. The first swim, paid for by the JVFD, was held Dec. 12, and subsequent swims are scheduled for Dec. 19, Jan. 9, Jan. 16, Feb. 13, and Feb. 26. All swims run from 4:30-6 p.m.
If the free swims prove popular, the schedule may be extended throughout the rest of the year.
The Juneau Volunteer Fire Department, established in 1886, has long taken an active role in community outreach. In 1913 it created the city’s first baseball league, and purchased property for a baseball field where the current Federal Building now stands. After the property was sold in 1960, the JVFD purchased Evergreen Bowl, building a new ball field and tennis courts and rebuilding the swimming pool (the park was named for local firefighter Bill Cope). More recently, the JVFD helped provide funding and manpower for Project Playground at Twin Lakes. In addition, the organization has contributed to muscular dystrophy, the Salvation Army, United Way and numerous other organizations.
The Firefighters kicked off their Youth Activity Fund with a $60,000 donation to the Juneau Community Foundation. Additional donations are welcome and can be made either by check, made out to the Juneau Community Foundation (350 N. Franklin St., #4, Juneau, Alaska 99801) or by visiting the foundation’s website at juneaucf.org. For more information about the Juneau Community Foundation’s local partnerships, visit juneaucf.org.
