SAFE Fund provides money, support to fallen KCFD paramedic’s family

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - On Tuesday, the director of SAFE, the Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund, met with the family of fallen KCFD firefighter-paramedic Graham Hoffman. The program provided a $40,000 check and additional resources to support his family.

“The entire community is heartbroken losing Graham,” said Zimmerman. “I have so much admiration to the first responders who step up to do this, but it’s a painful reminder of why we’re here. The entire community mourns the loss of a first responder because they are there to protect our communities. When we lose one of them, everyone feels it.”

The primary fundraiser for the SAFE fund is the annual Guns N Hoses event. Zimmerman says first responders have been training for months to participate; this week they met at the KCK Police Athletic League to spar for their spot.

“We have this fundraiser to make sure we always the funds available if we lose someone in the line of duty,” said Zimmerman.

For the last 20 years, the SAFE fund has given checks and provided other services to families of fallen first responders. With the Guns N Hoses fundraiser, checks for families have grown from $3,000 when the fund was created in 2005 to $40,000 today.

Tickets for the fundraising event are on sale now. It will be held in the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Kansas City on June 7.

Kansas City Fire Department announces funeral arrangements for Graham Hoffman