Signal 13 Foundation Joins Forces with Baltimore Organizations to Provide Handicap Accessible Van to Baltimore Police Sgt. Isaac Carrington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 5, 2021
Following a shooting outside his home in August 2019, Sgt. Isaac Carrington, then a 22-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, spent weeks at Shock Trauma recovering. Wheelchair-bound, Sgt. Carrington’s life will never be the same. But today, January 5th, he got a lift when representatives from MileOne Autogroup and its nonprofit arm Wheels for Change, The Signal 13 Foundation and the Baltimore City Lodge #3 Fraternal Order of Police presented him with a handicap accessible van. The organizations joined forces to raise the necessary funds for the vehicle totaling over $70,000, which was outfitted by and purchased from Bedco Mobility.
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“With the donation of this accessible van, I can now look forward to recovery,” said Sgt. Carrington. “This generous gift of mobility makes it possible for me to get my life back together and move forward. I am very thankful for all the support.”
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The FOP, which orchestrated the fundraising effort and pledged the initial funds, worked closely with Signal 13, an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to qualified Baltimore City Police department personnel, both civilian and sworn, who experience unexpected financial hardship, to drive awareness to the effort.
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“Signal 13 was founded in 1983 by a former police commissioner and local philanthropists to help injured officers like Sergeant Carrington. Signal 13 is a not-for-profit with a mission to support Baltimore Police families and make their lives better. We are honored to support Sgt. Carrington as he begins this new chapter,” says Nancy Hinds, CEO of the Signal 13 Foundation.
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Signal 13 board member Steve Fader, who is CEO of MileOne Autogroup and president of Wheels for Change, its nonprofit arm providing relief to organizations in the community who struggle with transportation, learned of the fundraising effort during a recent board meeting and pledged on the spot.
“We know from our many years of providing vehicles to those in need that transportation is transformational,” said Fader. “Being able to do this for Sgt Carrington is a great honor and privilege.”
With the necessary funds raised, Bedco Mobility was approached to upfit the vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Sienna, specifically for Sgt. Carrington’s needs.
Fifteen hours of driving lessons and a special driver’s license from the Motor Vehicle Administration are required in order to operate the accessibility van.
“I’m extremely grateful for the collaborative effort of the FOP, MileOne Autogroup, Wheels for Change, and the Signal 13 Foundation in supporting Sgt. Carrington. Their generosity helps him have some mobility and normalcy, which is greatly appreciated,” said Baltimore City Police Commissioner Michael S. Harrison who joined Sgt. Carrington and representatives from each of the organizations at the Baltimore Police FOP Lodge #3 for the presentation.
About Signal 13 Foundation
Since its establishment in the early 1980s, the Frank J. Battaglia Signal 13 Foundation has endeavored to achieve three main goals:
- to provide financial assistance to qualified Baltimore City police department personnel, both civilian and sworn, who experience unexpected personal financial hardship
- to fund college scholarships for the children of active-duty members of the Baltimore police department, both civilian and sworn
- to organize events that support the foundation’s mission and serve to foster community and goodwill among the members of the police department and the public
Traditionally, when an officer experiences a personal crisis, particularly a financial hardship, fellow officers often pitch in to help by passing a hat from person to person at Roll Call, to collect donations and contributions. The aim of the Signal 13 Foundation is to support and expand on such gallant efforts, but in a more consistent and intentional manner by providing financial assistance in the form of small, no-obligation grants. Our goal is to offer welcome relief and peace of mind to department personnel during times of distress, provide opportunities for active-duty members and their families to grow, and to ensure a healthy and vital relationship with the public.
To follow the Signal 13 Foundation on social media please click on the following links. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
