During the National First Responders Day celebration on October 28 in Boca Raton, Thank You First Responder (TYFRO) presented the 2023 Doug Stepelton “Culture of Thank You” Award to Florida State Representative Chip LaMarca.

Stanton Smith, Co-Founder of TYFRO, said “Chip LaMarca’s dedication to our First Responders is truly remarkable. His tireless efforts have made a significant impact in supporting and acknowledging the sacrifices our local heroes make daily.”

On being recognized for his contributions, Representative LaMarca said, “It’s an incredible honor to receive this award. Our First Responders are the backbone of our communities, and any support I can provide to them is simply a reflection of my respect and appreciation for the work they do every day.”

Representative LaMarca has served the Broward County community and the State of Florida since 2005 when he was elected to serve as a city commissioner in the City of Lighthouse Point, where he was a dedicated voice for the local first responders of the Lighthouse Point Fire Rescue and Police departments. Later, he was elected to serve as a Member of the Broward County Commission, where he worked to better the lives of the first responders of Broward’s 31 municipalities, as well as the nearly 6,000 members of the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He was a founding member of the Broward Fire/Rescue and EMS Councils, as well as the “Take 5 to Stay Alive” committee. Serving now as a Member of the Florida House of Representatives, LaMarca has sponsored and passed legislation to better the conditions and lives of our First Responders, recently lowering the time of active duty required for our local heroes to serve before having the opportunity to retire safely. 

Thank You First Responder (TYFRO) is a national grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting the sacrifices and efforts of first responders. Through initiatives like the Doug Stepelton “Culture of Thank You” Award, TYFRO aims to create a culture of gratitude towards those who serve our communities every day.  The organization, founded in 2014 to raise awareness, support, celebrate, honor and most importantly create a “Culture of Thank You” for all of our Nation’s First Responders for the difficult job they do every day by putting their lives on the line to protect and enhance our country and way of life. TYFRO successfully spearheaded the creation of a national day of appreciation on October 28 – National First Responders Day. TYFRO also provides resources for Mental Health First Aid to facilitate learning engagement with First Responders. 

The 2023 National First Responders Day celebration was sponsored by The GEO Group, Alterna Equity Partners, Osborne & Francis Law Firm and hosted by JohnnyO’s Gymnasium located at 2920 NW Boca Raton Blvd. in Boca Raton. These organizations’ commitment to supporting First Responders demonstrates their shared values with TYFRO and their ongoing dedication to service. 

For more information, visit ThankYouFirstResponder.org

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