Jumpline magazine Q1 2023 - Flipbook - Page 22
22
Hispanic American Firefighters Association
Gabe Nemeth, Ret.
History of the
HAFA Annual Children’s Holiday Event
Who would have thought a gesture as simple as firefighters giving back to our community nearly 30 years
ago would become what it is today. In 1994, two members of the Hispanic American Firefighters Association (HAFA) were asked by a friend to come by her
son’s school around Christmas and hand out toys.
She believed that her son, a special needs student
at Riviera Middle School, along with his fellow classmates, would have a memorable experience if they
received toys from firefighters. HAFA organized it and
with the crews from Station 29 they spent a few hours
at the school giving out gifts.
Today, that simple gesture has become HAFA’s Annual Children’s Holiday Event at the Miami Seaquarium.
HAFA and its members bring approximately 800 special needs students to spend a morning at the park.
The students get to see the Flipper Dolphin Show, witness Santa’s arrival, receive a gift and eat lunch before returning to
school. Just seeing the smiles on those young faces makes it a memorable event.
Don’t pass up an opportunity to give back to your community
no matter how small a gesture you perceive it to be.
Someday it might just turn into an annual event.
HAFA 1994
February 2023 | JUMPLINE Magazine
