First responders carry what they see on the worst days of other people’s lives. The Chip Terry Fund helps them set that weight down. A few minutes and a single text can connect someone who is hurting with real support.
The stress a first responder carries is an occupational injury, the same as a torn muscle or a broken bone. It comes from the job, not from a personal failing. Repeated exposure to trauma changes the body and the brain in measurable ways.
Like other injuries, this one responds to the right care. The Chip Terry Fund puts that care within reach: financial support for treatment, retreats built for recovery, and training that helps departments catch trouble early. The Text-a-Thon is how that work gets funded for the year ahead.
A captain rallies a team inside their department, station, or region. No experience needed, just a willingness to spread the word.
During the campaign window, team members text the people in their lives a short, personal message with a link to give.
Every gift goes straight to the programs that help first responders and their families heal, and teams cheer each other on toward the goal.
The fastest way to help. Your gift funds financial support for treatment, retreats, and training all year long.
Lead a team from your department or region. The Fund provides talking points and a ready-to-send message.
Not ready to captain a team? Share the campaign with one person who would want to help.
Volunteer to recruit participants within and around your department. The Fund follows up with everything needed to lead.
A short, focused campaign where supporters spread the word by text. Captains recruit a team, members reach out to their own networks, and the community moves toward a shared goal together.
The [Year] Text-a-Thon runs [start date] through [end date].
Anyone. First responders, families, friends, and neighbors can give, captain a team, or share the campaign.
Fill out the short signup form on this page. The Fund follows up with everything needed to lead a team.
Yes. The Chip Terry Fund is a 501(c)3
Gifts fund the Fund’s core programs: peer support, retreats, and training for first responders and their families.