Valerie Lawrence

“As a widow of a firefighter and seeing what the Relief Association does for its members … it only drew me closer to the cause,” said Valerie.

As a longtime volunteer of nearly 30 years for various organizations, Valerie is not shy of committing to what she believes in, whether it’s the PTA or the Lane Kemper softball tournament, or most recently, the Benefit of Our Bravest, an annual fundraiser that benefits L.A. city fire stations, she has truly demonstrated acts of goodwill and selflessness.

After her husband John suddenly passed away in December 2008, reaching out to the Widows & Orphans was a way of staying connected to the firefighter family while keeping busy helping others, said Valerie.

“She experienced a huge loss in her life and embodies everything I would want to be when faced with what she has faced,” said Juliet Brandolino, event coordinator for Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Association.

Valerie and LAFD Firefighter Brett Willis, kick-off a L.A. Kings hockey game in October 2009, by dropping the first puck at the Firefighter Appreciation night at Staples Center. The LAFD Hockey team later played the L.A. Kings' Alumni team.Volunteering was a way of life for the Lawrence’s, as John was also an avid volunteer while serving for 34 years as an LAFD firefighter.

The Kemper tournament was a natural fit for Valerie, as John had participated or volunteered as the cook for the event for the last several years. However, this year, Valerie took on the role as head organizer of the raffle and silent auction event as a way to keep her husband’s memory alive.

“I really like the Lane Kemper softball tournament. My first project after my husband passed away was working on the softball tournament … and that kept me busy and focused on something else other than a pity-party for myself. Recently this year in giving, I feel the spirit of my husband inside of me and it’s a very soft presence -- knowing he’d be here doing it if I wasn’t,” said Valerie.

Whether it was purchasing items, such as fax machines, ice machines, air conditioners or replacing barbecues for fire stations, John and Valerie held fundraisers and street fairs to make it happen. “… we’ve been for the last seven years fundraising and returning money back to the fire stations,” she said.

“The one (Benefit of Our Bravest) we had last year was the last one my husband was able to do with us. We did the fundraiser for Operation Gratitude ... and split the money between [them] and Division 3,” she said.

Head organizer for Lane Kemper, Engineer Bill Bringas of Fire Station 72 has worked with both Valerie and John and says when he began nearly four years ago, he really didn’t know the “ins and outs” of running a tournament and welcomed the Lawrence’s input.

A poem Valerie wrote for John. She taped this to the Firefighter Memorial Wall in Colorado when John's name was added in 2009.“We were sitting at the table and John and Valerie were at the far end … I was thinking of various ideas on how to approach the event and they kept bringing three to four different ways I should do things, said Bringas. “I found out John was a firefighter and ran Benefit of Our Bravest … we then became good friends.”

Although Hope for Firefighters is her favorite event, Valerie has worn many hats while volunteering, and in doing so has forged many friendships, including with Jan Graf, 2008-09 Volunteer of the Year.

Valerie said she had the pleasure to work with Jan in the “Wilshire the Fire Dog” booth at this year’s Hope for Firefighters and is interested in helping provide emotional support to other grieving widows.

“I’ve been through grief counseling twice now … and it makes it easier for me to understand and help other people through their grief. I am up 24/7 … I don’t sleep much. I will be your grief sponsor,” Valerie said.

“She is a true angel to this organization, and I have tremendous respect and deep admiration for her,” said Brandolino.

Valerie’s presence has been felt at all of the Widows & Orphans events, as she is not only recognized for her talents, but for her commitment and support to the firefighter community.

“She’s an integral part of Kemper, and she loves to be involved with the fire department, it’s a big part of her,” said Bringas.

In September 2009, Valerie went to the annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado Springs, Colo. to honor of her late husband, John, as his name was added to the wall. Click here for details: 2009 Wall of Honor and the 2010 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial.

Valerie said, “I got on a plane to Colorado and this guy says, ‘you look really familiar to me, you look really familiar to me.’ Turns out, I had taken his picture when we were at Hope for Firefighters with his group, and then he was on a softball team, and that’s where he knew me from – volunteering.”

And for Valerie, helping others is a way to grow and expand when times are tough. “Volunteering is a very rewarding experience. Knowing you can give to somebody that can’t give back, it means more than receiving,” she said.

In recognition for her tremendous contributions to the Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund, it is with distinct pleasure to honor Valerie Lawrence as the 2010 Volunteer of the Year by the Los Angeles Firemen’s Relief Fund.

She has proven to be an incredible asset to the charity with her tireless commitments during the Lane Kemper Softball Classic, Hope for Firefighters and the LAFD Invitational golf tournament.

Not to mention, the countless hours of administrative support preparing auction bid sheets, keeping LAFRA staff under control and spoiling them with chocolate chip cookies.

“It’s a great place to work, even if you don’t get paid. It’s just a bittersweet experience to come in here and feel the love from everybody … I totally feel the support.”

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