FIRE 20/20, a non-profit organization that helps fire/EMS connect with their multicultural communities, is pleased to announce the first annual Tony Pini Awards for Diversity & Inclusion in the Fire Service. Named in honor of the late Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Pini, the awards acknowledge the efforts of departments that have excelled with diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The Tony Pini Diversity & Inclusion Award will be presented to four departments—two career and two volunteer—that demonstrate leadership and success in diversity and inclusion initiatives. Diversity and inclusion initiatives need to have been in place for at least one year, demonstrate sustainability, and show measurable results. Nomination criteria is in two categories:

Initiatives or programs within a department that build and foster a diverse and inclusive culture; and Initiatives or programs that build and foster proactive working relationships between a fire department and the multicultural communities it serves.

The award-winning departments will be selected from the pool of nominees by a committee comprising leaders from FIRE 20/20, the IAFC and members of the award partnering organizations.

Each of the four award recipients will be presented with etched-glass plaques at the Diversity Breakfast at the Fire-Rescue International Conference (FRI) on Aug. 25, 2011.

Nominations are being accepted Feb. 28, 2011, through April 30, 2011. Nominations may be completed online or a PDF nomination form may be downloaded and returned to FIRE 20/20 by mail or fax. For complete nomination and selection criteria, as well as links to the online and PDF nomination forms, please visit www.fire2020.org.

The 2011 Tony Pini Awards are co-sponsored by FIRE 20/20, the IAFC and Lion Apparel, in partnership with the International Association of Black Professional Fire Fighters, International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, National Native American Fire Chiefs Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, and the IAFC’s Volunteer and Combination Officers Section and the Human Relations Committee.

