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Another example of Islanders of diverse backgrounds and interests coming together for a good cause will unfold this coming Thursday at the Island Country Club.

As you may already know or may already have made plans to be part of it, I refer to the inaugural luncheon of Marco’s brand spanking new Fire-Rescue Foundation.

If that name sounds similar to our Marco Police Foundation, now about five years old, it is. Some of the same civic-minded people who people the police foundation are involved with this group, formed to benefit our other key first responders.

The point of the Fire-Rescue Foundation is similar to that of the Police Foundation — to help individual first responders and their families when they need it. One example is financial aid if they have extraordinary medical bills above and beyond the limits of their health insurance coverage. Another area where the foundation hopes to fill a need is in helping families get scholarships and other financial aid for higher education. The foundation also will be saluting and honoring individual first responders for their service.

As the man who forged the new foundation, Howard Montgomery, puts it, “They make a difference in our lives every day and we want to recognize that and give them help when they need it.”

Montgomery is president of Marco Community Bank. The president of the Fire Rescue Foundation is Dick Braun, a retired funeral home owner who moved here from Michigan. Another of the “pioneers” of the new foundation is its vice-president, Jim Curran, long a civic-minded volunteer for good causes here.

“We just started kicking this idea around last January,” Curran says. “Good people who applauded the Police Foundation got together and it just sort of blossomed.

“We met with Chief Murphy and many of the fire and rescue people and they were enthusiastic. Some of the Police Foundation board members agreed to serve on the Fire-Rescue board as well.

“There’s no competition between the two groups; it’s more of an alliance if anything,” says Curran. To that point, another director of the Fire-Rescue Foundation, Orion Bank Vice President/Manager Keith Dameron, says it’s conceivable that, “someday, maybe the two foundations could even merge. It might make sense down the road, but for now, we’re just excited about getting this foundation up and running.”

Another of the foundation’s directors, Steve Stefanides, told the Eagle recently, “Foundations are able to do things individuals can’t do. We’re looking to mirror the great success the police foundation has had. And follow up on that which has been established to help those who help all of us when we need it.”

Police and fire foundations abound in this country but they’re not all alike. Some concentrate on fundraising, some focus on recognizing the courage and public service of first responders, still others do all the above and more.

Striking to me is the support already shown here from various island interests. The luncheon this Thursday was almost sold out by last Friday, with entire tables reserved by civic groups, real estate firm, other local businesses and individuals.

To check on seat availability and make reservations, you can call 239-389-5200, ext. 206. The cost is $25 per person, which includes a $5 donation to the Fire-Rescue Foundation.

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Chris Curle is a former news anchor for CNN and for ABC TV stations in Atlanta, Houston and Washington, D.C. E-mail: chris@chriscurle.com.