Events, Media & Communications

Motorola Solutions Foundation Hosts Inaugural Grant Partner Summit on First Responder Wellness

Oct 4, 2023 4:15 PM ET
Campaign: First Responder Programming
Grant partner summit attendees
Grant partner summit

The Motorola Solutions Foundation is committed to supporting our grant partners with resources for serving the mental health and wellness needs of first responders and their families. This year alone, we've provided $4.8M in funding to organizations supporting first responders, with $1.3M going to programs directly focused on first responder wellness. However, we believe that funding is only one piece of the puzzle. We recognized that there is an opportunity to use our position to further help our partners make an impact by helping them enhance the capacity and effectiveness of the programs they are focused on. To help our partners strengthen their programming and make valuable connections, the Foundation hosted its first-ever Grant Partner Summit on First Responder Wellness at the Motorola Solutions headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

On Sept. 13-14, 2023, representatives from 17 nonprofit organizations across North America supporting first responder mental health and wellness convened at the summit. We worked with our partners to understand what the biggest areas of opportunities or pain points were and designed our sessions to uniquely fit their needs. Topics included:

  • Fundraising strategies
  • Social media best practices
  • Peer support programming
  • Website design
  • Program evaluation
  • Event planning
  • Open small group discussions

The summit provided a forum for participants to learn from one another, share best practices and network across organizations to make an even greater impact for first responders and their families. Additionally, participants helped decorate and pack and decorate first responder appreciation kits in partnership with Project Helping, a Colorado-based mental health nonprofit that provides virtual and in-person volunteer kits in support of a variety of cause areas.

“Attending the Motorola Solutions Summit has been an extraordinary learning and collaborative experience,” said Kevin M. Lynch, CEO of The Quell Foundation. “It's inspiring to witness the dedication and innovation of like-minded leaders in our quest to improve mental health support and access."

“We’re immensely grateful for the steadfast commitment of our grant partners in supporting the mental health and wellness needs of first responders and their families,” said Karem Péerez, executive director, Motorola Solutions Foundation. “We know this is an urgent need within the first responder community, and we’re humbled to have a small part in connecting the dots between impactful organizations across North America. We’re hopeful that even in a short, 36-hour period, our partners will benefit from this knowledge and relationship building across the sector.”

The inaugural event had 100% attendance with every organization invited sending at least one representative to attend, and the Foundation provided travel stipends to all partners who attended. Participating nonprofit organizations included:

About the Motorola Solutions Foundation 
As the charitable and philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions, the Motorola Solutions Foundation is one of the many ways in which the company lives out its purpose to help people be their best in the moments that matter. The Foundation gives back to the community through strategic grants, employee volunteerism and other community investment initiatives.

For more information, please visit www.motorolasolutions.com/foundation

About Motorola Solutions 
Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Our solutions in land mobile radio communications, video security and the command center, bolstered by managed & support services, create an integrated technology ecosystem to help make communities safer and businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we’re ushering in a new era in public safety and security.

Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com.

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