Awareness

Awareness, Outreach, and the Call to Rise

We can’t help them if they don’t know we exist.

 

First responders and veterans are hurting—in silence, in service, and in systems that often fail to recognize the weight they carry. Trial by Fire exists to help them reset, recover, and rise through transformative retreats and programs.

 

But transformation requires invitation. And invitation requires awareness.

 

That’s why our outreach strategy is both sacred and strategic. We’re not marketing a product—we’re calling heroes home.

Our Awareness Strategy: Two Fronts, One Mission

  1. Participants
    • We focus on reaching:
      • First responders in crisis (EMS, fire, police, dispatch)
      • Veterans and active-duty military
      • Spouses/family members affected by trauma
  1. Supporters — Those Who provide the fuel to the fire
    • We seek out:
      • Donors (individuals, businesses, churches, civic organizations)
      • Agency partners (fire departments, VAs, police unions, EMS agencies, etc.)
      • Mental health allies and trauma recovery professionals

Each group hears a different message—but both need the same truth:

This work changes lives.

How We Reach Participants

We go where the hurting are:

Agency Partnerships

We build trusted relationships with local and regional EMS, fire, and law enforcement agencies to refer struggling personnel directly to us.

Peer Referrals

Word of mouth remains the most powerful tool. Alumni are trained to recognize need and extend personal invitations to others.

Crisis Points

Chaplains, clinicians, and supervisors refer individuals on the edge—often when nothing else has worked.

Social Media & Video Stories

Real stories. Raw truth. No fluff. We use Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to share participant testimonies and behind-the-scenes snapshots that build trust and relatability.

Targeted Materials

Custom postcards for firehouses and EMS bays

Flyers for police union boards

Digital PDFs for chaplains and therapists

Videos to share in peer support briefings or roll call

How We Engage Donors & Supporters

We speak to the heart—and the impact:

 

Impact Stories & Metrics

We show real transformation, backed by testimonials, stats, and before/after narratives.

 

In-Person Events

Fundraisers, sponsor dinners, keynote talks, and charity fights allow direct interaction and vision-casting.

 

Partner Program

A donor pathway that invites sponsors to walk alongside us:

$100/month = covers one participant’s meals

$2,000 = sponsors one full retreat experience for one hero.

$10,000 = equips a full season of transformation

 

Behind-the-Scenes Content

Donors receive early access to story videos, retreat recaps, and exclusive updates through our newsletter.

 

Agency-Level Giving

We invite fire departments, police unions, and veteran orgs to sponsor their own people—turning support into local legacy.

 

Our Channels

Website (byfire.org)

Our central hub for retreat info, donations, applications, and content

 

Social Media 

Instagram & Facebook: storytelling + behind-the-scenes

YouTube: participant mini-documentaries and promotional videos

LinkedIn: professional engagement with sponsors, mental health professionals, and first responder leadership

Podcast & Media Features (coming soon)

Ambassadors & Alumni

Our most powerful messengers are those who’ve been through the fire. We equip past participants to share in their own communities and to become and serve as guides for future heroes.

Want to Help Spread the Word?

Whether you’re a donor, a leader, or someone who has lived through the fire—you can help us reach the next one in need.

 

[Fill out an application→]

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[Invite Us to Speak →]

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