Fire 2020

Tony Pini Awards

In 2011, FIRE  20/20 was pleased to announce the first annual Tony Pini Awards for Diversity & Inclusion in the Fire Service.

 

Named in honor of the late Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Pini, a lifelong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the Fire Service, the awards honored fire departments that are working to build and nourish a diverse, inclusive culture, and that foster proactive relationships with their multicultural communities.

 

Two career and two volunteer departments were presented with the Tony Pini Awards during a special breakfast event at the International Association of Fire Chiefs Conference (FRI) on August 25, 2011.

 

WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2011.

 

    • We received 40 nominations for the first annual Tony Pini Awards.

 

    • Nine departments/organizations were selected as semi-finalists.

 

    • The four winners were: Portsmouth, VA; Toronto, ON (Canada); Bainbridge Island, WA; and Fire Service Women of New York State.

 

    • The winners were presented with etched glass awards at a special ceremony during the Diversity Breakfast at FRI in Atlanta on August 25th.

 

 

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Award Specifications

Nomination Criteria: Nomination criteria is in two categories: 1) initiatives or programs within a department that build and foster a diverse and inclusive culture, and 2) initiatives or programs that build and foster proactive working relationships between a fire department and the multicultural communities it serves.


Eligibility: The award acknowledges the efforts of departments, rather than those of individuals. Initiatives need to have been in place for at least one year, demonstrate sustainability, and show measurable results.


Selection Committee: The award-winning departments will be selected from the pool of nominees by a selection committee comprised of members of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and FIRE 20/20.


About Tony Pini

Chief Tony Pini retired from the Santa Rosa Fire Department in September 2003, after 33 years in the California fire service. Throughout his career, Chief Pini emphasized the need for greater diversity in the fire service. He was a founder and an active member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Human Relations Committee, helping to craft its vision, mission, and values. He was a member of the IAFC Ethics Task Force, and a past chair of the California Fire Chiefs’ Cultural Diversity Committee. In 2005, Chief Pini was a founding member of the FIRE 20/20 Board of Directors. He was influential in establishing the core values and scope of work for this nonprofit committed to helping fire and EMS departments recruit and retain a new generation of qualified, diverse, inclusive, safety-conscious men and women firefighters. In recognition of Chief Pini’s unwavering dedication to building a diverse, inclusive fire and emergency service, we’ve named this prestigious award, to be presented annually to four departments that excel in diversity and inclusion initiatives, in his honor.

Award Information

The Tony Pini Diversity and Inclusion Award will be presented annually to four departments− two career and two volunteer− that demonstrate leadership and success in diversity and inclusion initiatives. Each of the four award recipients will be presented with etched-glass plaques at FRI on August 25, 2011. They will be acknowledged in press releases to their local media; in the print and online publications of IAFC, FIRE 20/20 and our partners; in Fire Rescue Magazine and other media. Go to the Online Nomination Form now > Download the Nomination Form PDF, including complete nomination and selection criteria  >

Award Sponsors

The 2011 Tony Pini Awards are sponsored by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and LION.