KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Graham Hoffman Firefighter Paramedic Scholarship Fund has been created to honor the life, legacy and career of the firefighter killed inside an ambulance. This weekend, those in Kansas City have the opportunity to support the fund at some local restaurants.

“In honor of KCFD Firefighter/Paramedic Graham Hoffman, who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community, HeroFundUSA, Inc. has established the Graham Hoffman Firefighter Paramedic Scholarship Fund,” HeroFundUSA, an organization dedicated to the safety of first responders, says.

“While our focus is on helping provide safety equipment and other preventative measures, we also offer prayer support to families in times of crisis such as line-of-duty injury and death,” its website reads.

HeroFundUSA’s CEO, Darrell Smith, went on to explain the purpose of the fund.

“The purpose of the grant will be for young folks that want to pursue a career as a firefighter paramedic – it costs about 8-10 thousand dollars to go through paramedic training program. It’s generally about a 12–18-month program. They can apply for a scholarship through HeroFundUSA now in memory of Graham Hoffman.”

Saturday, several members of the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association will be participating and donating 10% of their sales to the special donation campaign, benefitting the Graham Hoffman Scholarship Fund.  

“We hope that a majority of the restaurants in the area will join forces with us to do this; to remember this exemplary man’s career and his life and his legacy,” Smith shared.

“Whatever we raise will be dedicated to this scholarship fund in memory of Graham Hoffman.”

Smith said there will also be different options where patrons of the businesses can make a donation, too.

One of those businesses, confirmed to be assisting, is Em Chamas Brazilian Grill in the Northland on Saturday, May 3. The Brazilian Grill’s owner says recognizing first responders is personal to him and his family.

“My brother is captain on the fire department. He was actually the captain at the station Graham was working at that night,” Sam Silvio said.

Silvio was talking about Graham Hoffman, the Kansas City Firefighter Paramedic, who was killed while working on Sunday.

“Don’t take it for granted. Don’t take it for granted the safety they provide for us and what they do for us when we really need them,” Silvio said.

“We have a lot of family and a lot friends that are on the fire department.”

Smith said Silvio came to him with the idea to create this scholarship fund, and with a blessing from the Hoffman family, the scholarship fund was created.

“To know this young man was trying to help an individual and he literally sacrificed his life at the hands of somebody that he was trying to help,” Smith said.

“It hits hard. It hits different.”

The Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association says Friday morning, there will be a full list published of all the restaurants that are participating in the effort this week. Those interested can check back here on Friday to find out which businesses they are. 

So far, as of Thursday afternoon, according to HeroFundUSA’s website, the current restaurants participating include:

• V’s Italiano Ristorante 
• Em Chamas Brazilian Grill 
• Hawg Jaw Que & Brew 
• The Combine KC
• Trezo Marr Restaurant
• Pizza 51

Among the many fundraisers featured this week to help Hoffman and his family, another is by a locally-owned apparel store, Pro Apparel KC. You can purchase your KCFD Graham Hoffman Memorial Hat here. 

The shop says the online store is open until May 12 for this item, with proceeds to go to the Hoffman Family.

“The next time you hear a siren, pray for who those first responders are going to help, but pray also for the first responders behind that siren, because behind that siren, are men and women, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles that are on their way putting their life in harm’s way to help somebody else,” Smith said.

“Pray for those first responders behind those sirens that they get to go home too.”