Rotary donates $5,000 to fallen firefighters

Cindy Belmonte, past president of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunset, presented a check for $5,000 to the Ventura County Firefighters for the department's Fallen Firefighter Memorial Fund at a recent Rotary Club meeting.

The club raised the money from the 2007 inaugural Gator Run on May 27.

In addition, the firefighters were presented with 100 complimentary tickets to the upcoming Rhythm and Brews Festival on July 28.

The Fallen Firefighter Memorial is a joint venture of the Ventura County Fire Chiefs Association and the Professional Firefighter Associations. Groundbreaking began March 29 on the lawn of Ventura County's Government Center for a memorial to pay tribute to county firefighters who died in service.

The dedication ceremony for the memorial is scheduled for Oct. 13.

The club's next Gator Run is scheduled for May 25, 2008.