Milwaukee – The We Energies Foundation is awarding $100,000 to police, fire and medical first responders across the state through its fourth annual Rewarding Responders Grant program. The grants will be used to purchase life-saving equipment.
“It is our honor to support the brave men and women making our communities safer places for everyone,” said Beth Straka, president — We Energies Foundation. “This program’s true reward lies in what doesn’t happen — the lives that remain unchanged, the moments we never have to remember — because our first responders had the lifesaving tools needed to make a difference.”
Donations toward a brighter future
The Rewarding Responders Grant program is one of the many ways We Energies makes the safety of its employees and communities a critical focus every day.
Since 2020, the We Energies Foundation has awarded $300,000 to police, fire and emergency medical services agencies through this important program. Its grants have provided critical equipment and training to departments from the town of Paris to Land O’Lakes, helping their members enhance public safety in their communities.
Improving safety with important tools
The 2023 grant recipients in southeastern Wisconsin include:
- Bayside Police Department — Automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Town of Brookfield Police Department — AED
- Town of Burlington Fire Department — Emergency pagers for firefighters
- Caledonia Police Department — Thermal imaging device
- Campbellsport Police Department — Protective shield for officers
- Campbellsport Volunteer Fire Department — Thermal imaging cameras
- Cedarburg Fire Department — Multi-gas detection meter
- Cudahy Fire Department — Hazardous gas monitoring equipment
- Cudahy Police Department — Protect the SWAT team
- Franklin Police Department — AED
- Germantown Fire Department — Multi-gas detection meter
- Glendale Police Department — Vehicle speed detection equipment
- Greendale Police Department — AED
- Greenfield Police Department — Vehicle speed detection equipment
- Hales Corners Police Department — AED
- Hartland Police Department — Squad car video cameras
- Town of Ixonia Fire Department — Multi-loop rescue strap
- Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office — Emergency scene lighting
- North Shore Fire Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Oakfield Fire Department — Structural firefighting gloves
- Town of Paris Fire and Rescue — Thermal imaging camera
- Pewaukee Fire Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Town of Randall Fire Department — Hazardous gas detector
- Raymond Fire and Rescue — AED
- South Milwaukee Police Department — Personal protective equipment for officers
- Summit Police Department — AED
- Union Grove-Yorkville Fire Department — Hazardous gas detectors
- Waukesha Fire Department — Electric vehicle emergency plug
- West Allis Police Department — 911 communication system upgrade
- Whitewater Fire and EMS — Electric vehicle emergency plug
- Whitewater Police Department — Lifesaving kits for critical incidents
- Wisconsin State Fair Park Police — Wearable safety lights
See the complete list of 2023 grant recipients
Grants impact safety across Wisconsin
The We Energies Foundation created its Rewarding Responders Grant program in 2020 as part of its longstanding commitment to support public safety efforts. During that time, the grants have helped hundreds of agencies purchase critical equipment or vital training to strengthen safety in their communities.
Eligible emergency response agencies can apply for up to $2,000 in funding through the annual grant program. Agencies may receive a grant if they:
- Operate in the We Energies service area.
- Did not receive a grant during the previous year.
- Complete an online grant application.
- Demonstrate the equipment or training they will acquire is part of a well-planned effort to improve public safety. Grants also may be put toward unique, safety-related projects that are one-time efforts.
