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IAFF HISTORY/BACKGROUNo <br />The tradition began in 1952, when a father in desperate need ran to IAFF member <br />George Graney's Fire Engine Company 1 in South Boston, IAFF Local 718 immediately <br />rounded up 20 fire fighters and set in motion a door-to-door canister drive that raised <br />$5,000. In 1953, Graney launched a citywide fundraising campaign with the help of <br />Boston fire fighters and made appeals across Massachusetts in behalf of children with <br />muscular dystrophy. <br />Realizing the potential that fire fighters had to offer the cause and their excellent image <br />in the community, Graney approached and persuaded IAFF members to support MDA. In <br />August 1954, Graney raised his voice at the IAFF's biannual convention in Miami and <br />proposed that MDA be established as the International's "charity of choice." MDA <br />Goodwill Ambassador Luis Grant, who had a form of muscular dystrophy, gave an <br />emotional presentation to (AFF members, helping to gain unanimous approval of Groney's <br />proclamation. This marked the beginning of a formal bond between the IAFF and MDA. <br />Since then, fire fighters have taken this vision and made it their mission, raising funds <br />a thousand ways: by placing collection jars in stores and restaurants, sponsoring charity <br />softball games and running auctions. These days, their signature fundraising activity is the <br />MDA Fill -the -Boot drive. <br />The IAFF has emerged as the single -largest sponsor of MDA, contributing more than $350 <br />million since 1954. The International has renewed that commitment to MDA under the <br />leadership of General President Harold A. Schaitberger, who is also an MDA national vice <br />president. Nearly 300,000 IAFF members in the United States and Canada continue to <br />break their fundraising record year after year — all to benefit Jerry's Kids. <br />E <br />