REDLANDS – As a commitment to the overall safety of the entire community of Redlands, Redlands Community Hospital has donated $2,500.00 to kick off a local corporate campaign to raise additional funds for the City to purchase a new ladder fire truck.

Hospital President and CEO Jim Holmes recently presented members of the Redlands Ladder Truck Fund Committee with the donation.

“As part of the emergency response team in the community, Redlands Community Hospital works every day with members of our local fire department,” said Holmes. “It was a natural move for us to help kick off the corporate campaign to help raise enough funds to purchase a new ladder fire truck.”

The Redlands fire truck corporate campaign is part of an overall effort by a group of community volunteers who have rolled up their sleeves to ensure that the Redlands Fire Department could purchase a new ladder fire truck, which costs about $800,000. The City has received a federal grant of $636,000 toward the purchase of the new truck but more money is needed to finalize the purchase.

“Our local fire fighters help keep us safe every day,” said Neal Waner, a Redlands business leader who is a member of the Redlands Ladder Truck Fund Committee. “Now we need our local businesses to step up and help us help our fire fighters.”

Waner said he was very appreciative of Redlands Community Hospital’s support and said it was no surprise that the hospital, a non-profit itself, stepped up to kick off the corporate campaign. “That is what Redlands is all about, local businesses and individuals going above and beyond to ensure that our community is safe. The hospital is a local champion of Redland’s community spirit.”

In presenting the donation, Holmes was joined by many hospital staff members as well as local fire fighters on the campus of the hospital.

Redlands Community Hospital is a not-for-profit, stand alone hospital.