JK Harris & Company President and CEO John Harris announced today that the company will lead an effort to collect contributions from employees and the funds will be donated to the City of Charleston Fireman's Fund to help the families of the nine Charleston firefighters who lost their lives battling a fire at a furniture store in Charleston, SC, Monday evening.
Harris stated his North Charleston-based company, which is the largest tax resolution firm in the nation, is collecting voluntary donations from employees. He also stated he will match those employee contributions, dollar for dollar, up to $5,000. The City of Charleston, as a result of the outpouring of support and requests from the community, has established the Fireman's Fund for those wishing to make donations.
"Our hearts and prayers go out to the heroic firefighters, their families, their extended families and others involved in this tragedy," Harris said. "Our employees have expressed a desire to assist these families. Over our history, our employees have always been willing to help those in need."
Over the last two years, JK Harris employees raised $15,000 for victims of Hurricane Katrina and this past spring raised an additional $26,000 for a fellow employee, who is confined to a wheelchair and was in need of a new specialty van. In each instance, JK Harris matched the employees' contributions.
The loss of the nine firefighters is the biggest loss of firemen anywhere in the United States since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It was also the first time a firefighter was killed on the job in Charleston since 1965.
Harris feels it is important to show support for all of the brave men and women who risk their lives to make the Charleston community a safe place to live.
"The families of these fallen heroes are going through a lot," Harris added. "Our employees just want to do anything they can do to help."
23 Jun 2007