With great expectations and excitement, Hispanic firefighters of San Diego are preparing to celebrate two decades of continuous community service.

 With an elegant party planned, members of the non-profit volunteer organization “Bomberos de San Diego”, members of City of San Diego Fire Department, will celebrate their continued presence and aid to the county.

 “For twenty years firefighters of ‘Bomberos de San Diego’ have been present at different events, helping the community by distributing scholarships, food, toys, and doing charitable works that can make a difference in the people’s lives”, said Joe Amador, vice-president of “Bomberos.”

 According to Amador, this group wants to give back to the community in a very big way for everything these firefighters once received as young people.

 For two decades these firefighters have not only helped the local communities of San Diego by risking their own lives daily in their heroic work as ‘fire eaters’, but this group has also successfully managed the task of raising funds to help needy people through different humanitarian projects.

 “The 150 members of this group have raised and contributed money every week, funding scholarships, food, toy drives, and supporting other charities,” Amador added.

 In addition, they have been judges at the spelling bee contest in San Ysidro School District; passed out turkeys and food on Christmas and Thanksgiving; as well as participated in important events at Children’s Hospital and other nonprofit organizations.

 The main source of their funds for their charitable work, for the last two decades, has come from golf tournaments.

 From the time it was formed, this organization has awarded more than $100,000 in school grants; its members have served as mentors for young people, and also supported and trained fellow firefighters from Mexico.

 According to Amador, big efforts and hard work of this heroic group of men and women has never been recognized, and neither has their humanitarian work. That is about to change this weekend with their very first gala.

 To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the members have organized a gala, where the seven founders of this group will be honored. Three students will be awarded with scholarships, and also the group will raise more funds to continue its community service work.

 According to Amador, currently the organization has 150 members, men and women of several ethnicities and races, although it was created by only the Hispanic firefighters.

 During the years, many firefighters and paramedics of the Fire Department of the City of San Diego have joined this group to contribute and serve the community and at the same time help raise funds to continue the group’s goals.

 Amador said that one of the ultimate goals in the organization is to open the doors to other county’s firefighters, who would want to join the group, contributing with their desire to serve and help people in need.

 “It feels good to return to the community some of the same things we received as young students. We want to help the youth to continue studying, and to help children by encouraging them to succeed in school. We receive letters of thanks from the young recipients of our scholarships saying how much they appreciate our help. This motivates us to move forward, full of pride and satisfaction, and we want to continue doing more,” Amador said.

 The first gala celebration of the “Bomberos de San Diego” will take place on Saturday, August 8 from 5:30 to 11 pm at the Hotel Loews Coronado Bay Resort on Coronado Island.

 The festival will feature a variety of entertainment, dinner, dancing, and a recognition ceremony to honor the founders of the organization and the young winners of the scholarship this year.

 “We are very excited about this celebration, we are expecting many people to attend the event, especially colleagues from other fire departments in the county, officials, and local authorities among others,” Amador said.

 The organizers expect 200 to 250 guests for the celebration. Also, the event will serve to commemorate not only the work and effort of the firefighters, but to help them with their donations to continue their invaluable work among the needy in the community they serve.

 For information and details of this celebration, please visit www.bomberosdesd.com