Continuing its mission of impacting the life-saving capabilities and the lives of local heroes and their communities, the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation will celebrate $35,691 worth of life-saving grants it awarded to two local schools and a hospital during a press event at the Firehouse Subs restaurant in Valencia on Tuesday, June 5 starting at 10 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the celebration, to be held at the Firehouse Subs restaurant located at 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia 91355.

“Keeping our communities safe is a primary goal of the Foundation,” said the foundation’s Executive Director Robin Peters. “We’re in a very fortunate position that allows us to work together with Firehouse Subs restaurants to raise funds that help provide life-saving equipment locally and throughout the country. Thanks to the generosity of so many people, we’re able to make a difference and help save lives.”

The event will feature live demonstrations from grant recipients, explaining the importance of the equipment and how it will be used to save lives. Residents and Firehouse Subs guests are invited to join the celebration and see firsthand how their generous contributions have come full circle to provide much needed equipment in their community.

The grant awards being celebrated at the June 5 event are:

* Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation received 35 digital portable radios for its Disaster Resource Center valued at $16,136. The awarded radios will aid in internal and external communication during emergencies where traditional modes of communication are compromised, helping ensure the safety of patients and hospital staff.

* Valencia High School received five automated external defibrillators and medical supplies valued at $11,477. The awarded AEDs and supplies will help ensure the school is prepared to provide medical assistance in emergency situations occurring during after school functions, including if an individual goes into cardiac arrest.

* Meadows School received a variety of safety supplies valued at $8,078. The awarded supplies will help ensure the school is prepared to address injuries and illness during natural disasters.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital is able to enhance communication efforts and safety with digital portable radios,” said Marlee Lauffer, president of the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation.

“In the event of an emergency, communication is key to saving lives and streamlining safety procedures,” Lauffer said. “We have a fantastic disaster preparedness team at the hospital and the portable radios will be an essential communication tool for our entire staff. The technology the radios provide will help us fulfill our commitment to be great at what matters most to patients.”

Event attendees include representatives from each school, the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation and Valencia Chamber of Commerce, as well as Peters, Firehouse Subs Area Representatives Jeff Press and Jim Fick and Firehouse Subs Franchisees Julie Fick and Jennifer Press.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, when Firehouse Subs Founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, traveled to Mississippi where they provided food to first responders and survivors.

As they traveled back to Florida, they knew they could do more and Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born with the mission of providing funding, life-saving equipment and educational opportunities to first responders and public safety organizations.

Since its inception, the non-profit organization has granted more than $33 million to hometown heroes in 46 states, Puerto Rico and Canada, including more than $804,000 in California.

Grant allocations are made possible thanks to the overwhelming support of Firehouse Subs restaurants and generous donors. Each restaurant recycles leftover, five-gallon buckets, available to guests for a $2 donation to the Foundation. Donation canisters on register counters collect spare change, while the Round Up Program allows guests to “round up” their bill to the nearest dollar.

The Foundation is also the beneficiary of a Charitable Sales Promotion where Firehouse of America will donate to the Foundation a sum equivalent to 0.13 percent of all gross sales with a minimum donation of $1MM through December 31, 2018.

To donate online and support Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, visit FirehouseSubsFoundation.org.