Members in Need
The IAEP Local 20 supports it's members and has created or shared GoFundMe postings on behalf of it's members in need. All of these postings are shared across the social media forums as well as shared with NAGE, our national parent union to be shared even further and to put the member in the running for the NAGE Charity Foundation. Please take the time to view the posts and donate if you can! If you cannot donate, take the time to share the postings to spread the word and help your fellow IAEP Local 20 member!
*Fundraisers that have ended will be removed*
IAEP Local 20 and IAFF Local 2623 are coming together to raise funds to support one of their own: Debbie Keefe, an Empress Dispatcher and IAEP Local 20 member, her husband Ryan Keefe, a Fire Captain at the Fairview Fire District, and their 4-year-old daughter Libby.
Libby is a bubbly, happy, resilient little girls who loves animals, music, and outdoor activities. Libby has hydrocephalus caused by aqueductal stenosis. Up until April, her condition was being managed, and she was doing very well and exceeding expectations. Then her shunt stopped working after it was clogged by blood, leading to three weeks with an external drain and the beginning of seven months of complications. When the family tried to transfer her care closer to home, it became clear that Libby's brain anatomy was too complex for local higher-level hospitals, so they returned to Boston Children's Hospital in Massachusetts, where Libby has undergone most of her care throughout her diagnosis.
There, doctors found that the blood was not coming from an active bleed, but from an existing subdural fluid space on the right side of Libby's brain. They located a channel from a past surgery that allowed that fluid to enter her ventricles, causing the shunt to clog and fail. The only way to address it was a craniotomy. On 10/6, Libby underwent her 9th brain surgery in 7 months. Since then, things have not gone as planned, and she was moved to the ICU because of changes in her mental state, movement in her left-sided extremities, and increasing lethargy. She has also been experiencing agitation and frustration and needs both of her parents at her bedside at all times.
On top of the significant emotional strain all of this has caused them, it has also created an ongoing financial strain for the family. Traveling from Poughkeepsie, NY to Boston, MA is about 3.5 hours each way, making it impossible to commute back and forth while keeping up with work. After the past seven months of repeated hospitalizations, most of their paid family leave has already been used. Support from this fundraiser will help cover continued travel, lost income from missed work, and the ongoing care Libby will need during a longer hospital stay, follow-up appointments, and around-the-clock care once she returns home.
Recurring donations would provide especially meaningful support as these needs continue over time, but one-time donations and shares are just as appreciated. Every contribution will help ease the pressure on Debbie, Ryan, and Libby so they can focus on Libby and the care she needs right now. Thank you for standing with them during this incredibly difficult time.
Our friend, colleague, and brother in EMS, Jim Gallagher, has dedicated nearly four decades to serving others. Jim began his career with Empress Ambulance Service in 1987 and has spent his life answering the call for those in need. Throughout his remarkable career, Jim has served in countless roles, including EMT, Paramedic, and firefighter with the LaGrange Fire Department. He has also proudly cared for his communities while serving with Our Lady of Mercy (OLM), as well as providing paramedic services in Larchmont and Mamaroneck. His commitment to helping others has touched countless lives and exemplifies the true meaning of public service.
A few days ago, Jim suffered a TIA leaving him with significant weakness that now requires extensive rehabilitation. He is currently working hard every day to regain his strength and independence, but his recovery will involve both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation over the coming months. During this time, he is unable to work. Those of us in EMS know all too well that many first responders live paycheck to paycheck. An unexpected medical emergency like this can place an overwhelming financial burden on both the individual and their family.
Today, we have the opportunity to give back to someone who has spent his life giving to others. If you are able, please consider supporting Jim and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help ease the financial strain while he focuses on what matters most his recovery. Thank you for your generosity, your prayers, and your support for one of our own.
This Go Fund Me was started by fellow Member Constance Levi, Thank you Constance!
Our friend and coworker recently made the incredibly brave decision to leave an abusive domestic relationship. Escaping was only the first step. Like many survivors, she has been left facing overwhelming financial hardship. During the relationship, her former partner accumulated significant debt in her name, leaving her responsible for financial burdens she never should have had to carry.
We are hoping to raise $16,000 to help relieve this financial burden and provide her with the opportunity to rebuild her life. Every dollar raised will go toward paying down the debt that threatens her family's stability, allowing her to focus on healing, providing for her children, and creating the safe future they deserve.
Domestic violence doesn't always end when someone leaves. The financial consequences can follow survivors for years. By contributing, you're not just helping pay bills—you are helping restore independence, security, and hope.
If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Every share increases the chances of reaching someone who can help.
On behalf of IAEP Local 20, her coworkers, friends, and family, thank you for standing beside one of our own during this difficult chapter. Together, we can remind her that she is not facing this journey alone.