MEDIA RELEASE

Registration is now open for the 17th Annual Daniel Robert Sayre Memorial Foundation Awards and Fundraising Dinner on Saturday, August 30. The gourmet buffet dinner, silent auction and awards ceremony will be held in the ballroom of The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii on the Kohala Coast, starting at 4:30 p.m. with the opening of the silent auction. Cost to attend is $95 per person, including tax and gratuity. Register by visiting www.DanielSayreFoundation.org or calling 808-325-5456.

Over the years this event has raised more than a million dollars to support Hawai`i Island’s fire/rescue and emergency response teams. All profits from the evening’s dinner and silent auction go toward the purchase of essential fire and rescue equipment.

The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation was created 17 years ago when Frank and Laura Sayre lost their son in a hiking accident. The Daniel Robert Sayre Memorial Foundation was founded to honor the dedication of Hawai`i Island fire/rescue workers and to help purchase essential rescue equipment.

The Foundation will honor the following Hawaii County Fire Department personnel, recommended from within the department to receive this recognition, for their meritorious service above and beyond the call of duty.

Fire Equipment Operator Michael Sohriakoff, Fire Rescue Specialist Scott Shiroma, Fire Rescue Specialist Bran Keopuhiwa, Fire Rescue Specialist Michael Akau, Fire Rescue Specialist Jason Robello, Acting Fire Rescue Specialist Micah Chew-Marumoto, Acting Fire Rescue Specialist Paul Kekela, Fire Fighter Jeremy Buttz, Water Safety Officer Paul Tucker, Water Safety Officer Ben Fisher, Water Safety Officer Laurie Beers, Fire Rescue Specialist Carl Pires, Fire Rescue Specialist Kaaina Keawe, Fire Rescue Specialist Chad Sohriakoff and Firefighter EMT Cole Arrington

In addition to attending the dinner, you can support this event in the following ways:

• Sponsor a dinner for one or more firefighters and/or their spouse.
• Be an active bidder in the silent auction or buy actual items needed by the HCFD at the live auction.

Here are a few of the items available at the silent auction:

• Stays at exclusive International and Island Hotels
• Custom Koa Long board Donated by the Kanuha Foundation and hand carved by Steve Martin
• Gift Certificates to Various Local Attractions and Helicopter Tours on the Big Island
• Gift Certificates to outstanding Local Restaurants
• Watercolors and Oils by famed local artists
• Rounds of Golf at Big Island Golf Courses
• Award winning Perry Estate Coffee
• Hotel Stays at multiple outstanding Kohala Coast Resorts and Exclusive B & B’s
• One year’s Membership and Training with Kona Aquatics
• Spa and Facial Treatments from Esteemed Plastic Surgeons and Dermatologists
• Gift Baskets from the Award Winning Kona Coffee and Tea Company
• Handcrafted Wooden Vessel by famed woodworker Gregg Smith and hand-turned vessels from local artisans

The gala evening will include dancing to the live dance band Vizion 20/20. A special weekend room rate is available at The Fairmont Orchid; contact their reservations office at 808-885-2000.

The Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation is a 501 ( C ) 3 public foundation and all donations are tax-deductible. Foundation website http://danielsayrefoundation.org