The Firewalker Foundation was officially formed in 2003 By the Houston Firefighter Mike Herman and his wife Cindy Herman. With all of the foundations and charitable causes looking for money it was very difficult to get any corporate sponsorship or donations, which was understandable, everyone has their own cause. Over the past several years, Mike has since retired from the Houston Fire Department but still maintains his State certification and cares deeply for the profession. Mike and his wife have opened and successful operated a Restaurant /Icehouse in the Austin area for the past three years, Cindy’s Gone Hog Wild is a popular destination with the bikes and known for their Burgers State wide. They now have a venue which to promote their cause, and raise money to support this needed foundation. The Firewalker Foundation was formed because of the need to help the children of the fallen firefighters. There is an organization called The 100 Club which provides emendate financial support to the family’s suffering the loss of the firefighter. The Firewalker Foundation is not intended to offer financial support immediately after the loss of the firefighter, but later in life when the children need that extra push to go to school, covering expenses a State school would not cover, starting a small business or help with their first home. These children have lost something no one or any amount of money could ever replace, the Foundation has been established to help these individuals and show that Texans care about their firefighters and their family’s.
The Firewalker Foundation is a Texas based corporation registered with the State of Texas as a 5013C. They have a board of Directors which operates as guided by the State of Texas and adheres to all State laws. The Foundation operates with the highest standard of ethics and its sole purpose is to help the children of or fallen firefighters.
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Benefit Eligibility
Any individual who is the son or daughter of a Texas Firefighter, either paid professional or volunteer, who suffers the loss of that firefighter in the line of duty, qualifies for the benefits offered and provided by The Firewalker Foundation. When the Foundation is notified or receives notification of such a loss, the Foundation will send a representative qualified to respond to the family during their time of loss and extend the benefits to the family. A formal information packet will be left with the family to be filled out and returned at a later date.
When the required information is received from the beneficiaries, the Firewalker Foundation’s Board of Directors will be notified and the CFO of The Firewalker Foundation will consult with the financial management team. This will begin the process of establishing a benefit account for the beneficiary.
When the beneficiary is enrolled to attend college or is at least 18 years of age, the beneficiary may apply for the offered benefits by the Foundation. The Board of Directors will meet and vote to disperse the benefits to the beneficiary as requested.
The Firewalker Foundation financial management team will conduct an annual audit by the accounting firm of Findley, Peden, CPA, located in Houston, Texas. The Firewalker Foundation is represented by the law firm of David M. O’Brien, PC in Houston, Texas.
