Telcom giant Motorola has announced it is donating $1 million to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) to fund the Paul S. Sarbanes Scholarship Program and activities related to the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

“This donation is an enormous benefit to survivor families looking to rebuild their lives after the loss of their loved ones,” said Hal Bruno, Chairman of NFFF. “It will also help us honor our nation’s heroes and their families during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. The scholarship program and memorial weekend are significant NFFF undertakings, and I want to thank Motorola and the Motorola Foundation for their generous donation that will help support these worthwhile efforts.”

“Motorola is proud to stand with our nation’s fire and emergency services professionals, and we have made this commitment to show our continued support and gratitude for their service to our families, our communities and our nation,” said Kelly Kirwan, Vice President, Motorola Networks & Enterprise business.

The Sarbanes Scholarship Program is named after Maryland U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes, who helped launch the program in 1997. The Motorola Foundation’s donation to the program will support students pursuing careers in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. The donation to the NFFF annual Memorial Weekend will enable survivor families to attend the event and participate in activities under the Fire Service Survivors Network.

NFFF’s Sarbanes Scholarship Program benefits people like Helen King of Alamo, Tennessee. Mrs. King lost her husband, volunteer firefighter Larry King, Sr., when he died in the line of duty at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The NFFF assisted Mrs. King and her family by awarding her a scholarship to pursue a degree from West Tennessee Business College.

Mrs. King completed her studies in 2001 and is now better prepared to provide for her family through her employment at Lane College. Mrs. King was the first spouse to receive a scholarship from the Foundation

Jessica Seaburg of Delmar, New York, is the daughter of fallen firefighter Kevin Seaburg, who suffered a fatal heart attack after battling a house fire in 1997. At the time her father died, she was 13 years. With the help of the Sarbanes Scholarship program, Ms. Seaburg has been able to attend Sage College of Albany and anticipates graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and law. “I plan on pursuing a career in the Family Court System,” she says, “which would enable me to help other children. I’m eager to serve my community just as my father once did.”