The Insurance Society of Philadelphia(ISOP), a nonprofit dedicated to education and professionaldevelopment of insurance professionals, presented Philadelphia FireDepartment Commissioner Derrick Sawyer with a check early thismonth for $81,600 to support the department’s fire preventionprograms.

To date, the programs have contributed to the city's low numberof fire-related deaths, according to Mayor Michael Nutter.

ISOP Executive Director Beth Graber said that her organizationenjoys a longstanding partnership with the Philadelphia FireDepartment.

“During [IICF's] Week of Giving this past fall, we were thrilledto be joined by Fire Commissioner Sawyer in the Strawberry Mansionneighborhood, where ISOP members volunteered to install smokedetectors in residents’ homes. As winter approaches the risk offire increases. This donation will allow the department to continueto provide smoke detectors and resources for residents to learnabout fire safety and avoid fire incidents,” she said.

Related: IICF reports record-breaking success for its Weekof Giving

The check was presented on Dec. 16. ISOP has raised more than$231,600 for the Citizens for Fire Prevention Committee Fund in thepast three years.

As part of ISOP’s 23rd Independence Gala held on Nov. 12 indowntown Philadelphia, members participated in a Text-to-PledgeCampaign, raising more than $50,000 for the Fire Department’s fireprevention efforts. In addition, ISOP honored Independence BlueCross President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty with the DistinguishedLeadership Award, which included $10,000 to be given to a charityof his choice. Hilferty tripled the amount, adding it to ISOP’sdonation.

The Fire Department plans to use the donations to purchase andinstall 10-year, lithium-powered smoke alarms. Since 2012, firedepartment units have installed over 45,577 smoke alarms into18,542 homes in Philadelphia.

The Citizens for Fire Prevention Committee Fund, a 501(c)3,collaborates with the Fire Department’s partners in the business,educational and healthcare sectors to educate the public in orderto reduce deaths, injuries and property damage caused by fire.

Related: 10 dos and don'ts to prevent homefires

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