Last December, Chapman Elementary held a “Mad Men” themed auction to raise money for two of the school’s organizations: the Chapman Elementary School Parent Teachers Association (PTA) and the Chapman Educational Foundation. The PTA provides financial support for classrooms and outreach to children in need, while the Chapman Educational Foundation uses its money to hire teachers whose positions would be eliminated because of state and local budget cuts. 

For the auction, Portland firefighters from Station 3 (Northwest/Pearl District) donated a soccer game followed by a pizza party at the station. During the auction, the firefighter’s donation brought in $800.00 at $40 a student.  

On Friday, February 17^th firefighters brought their "A-shift" game to Chapman Field. They played eight firefighters against 20 students, ranging from five years to nine years old. Both teams played tough, but the students won out with a game score of 3 to 2. 

Firefighters hosted the students and their adult chaperones at the station afterward, providing pizza and refreshments, a station tour, fire safety talk, and show and tell of the fire engine and truck. 

Students were even able to spray water with the booster line from the engine! 

“Judging from the smiles on their faces,” noted Station 3 Lieutenant Justin De Ruyter, “I gather that they had a good time.  Everyone at the station had a really good time as well and we all look forward to doing it again next year!”

  Portland Fire & Rescue