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The Fairfield Warde Gridiron Club has pledged $250 to the Walk for Wishes Hero Parade in memory of Fairfield Fire Lt. Jim Parry, who died suddenly in August at the age of 55.
Jims brother Tim started a foundation last year so that his brother's legacy of giving back to others would continue.
"My brother loved his fellow firefighters and would do whatever he could to help them in times of need, no questions asked," said Tim, a Fairfield native and founder of the FCIAC Football Blog.
"He was like that with people he never met, too, Tim said. He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back." The Jim Parry Foundation supports firefighter causes and firefighters in need.
When Fairfield Warde head football coach Duncan Della Volpe heard what Parry was doing, he asked the Gridiron Club if they would help. Though the club supports the Mustangs by buying equipment, providing pre-game team meals and supporting the team's efforts to attend camps and clinics, it also looks to give back to the Fairfield community.
"As a program, we decided it is important for our team to reach out to those in need," Della Volpe said. "We wanted to recognize a great man in Jim Parry by giving the funds equal to the donation he had given in the past to Make a Wish."
David Wolff, Jordan Irizarry, Chris Foley, Mike Money and Dario Pugliano, the captains of the 2011 Warde football team, presented a check to The Jim Parry Foundation on Thursday, April 21.
The Hero Walk, Saturday, May 14, at Jennings Beach, is a non-competitive, three-mile walk and parade to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut. The Gridiron Clubs pledge will sponsor the Parry Foundations participation in the event. Visit the Jim Parry Foundation Website to make a donation or email Tim Parry.
PHOTO (left to right): Warde captains David Wolff, Mike Money, Jordan Irizarry, Dario Pugliano, Tim Parry of the Jim Parry Foundation, Michael Dominick of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut.
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