TEXPERS Salutes Texas Firefighters' Efforts to Combat Wildfires

HOUSTON, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As tribute to the selfless dedication of more than 1,000 firefighters who continue to battle the ongoing and dangerous wildfires plaguing our state, the Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (TEXPERS) has begun a public awareness campaign drawing attention to their efforts.

"In a year when more than 11,000 wildfires have consumed more than 3,000,000 acres and untold wildlife and livestock, it's only fitting to thank the brave men and women who have contained the fires and protected Texans," said Eyna Canales-Zarate, the President of the TEXPERS Board of Directors.

"TEXPERS acknowledges the sacrifice they made, and the bravery they displayed, for very little compensation and only the most minimal expectation of a far-away defined benefit retirement plan. These are Texans of the highest caliber."

TEXPERS' Firefighters Awareness campaign links to the TEXPERS.org website where a special photo page has been assembled from firefighting organizations across the state. Viewers are encouraged to see for themselves the fires that have devastated the state, and the firefighters who took part in controlling them.

Through the campaign, TEXPERS hopes to draw attention to the services which Texans receive from their public servants, such as these Texas firefighters, and to consider the compensation and retirement benefits they receive in exchange.

"A tribute of this sort is very fitting right now," said Max Patterson, the executive director of TEXPERS. "It's our hope that sponsoring this public awareness campaign will remind Texans that their neighbors and friends fighting these wildfires are often volunteers or firefighters from small paid departments who receive little pay and a defined pension benefit after twenty plus years of service."

To view the Firefighter Tribute Awareness Campaign, please visit www.TEXPERS.org/FirefighterTribute.htm

About TEXPERs

The Texas Association of Public Employee Retirement Systems (TEXPERS) is a statewide voluntary nonprofit association to provide quality education to trustees, administrators, professional service providers and employee groups and associations engaged or interested in the management of public employee retirement systems. Today, TEXPERS' member systems represent approximately 300,000 active and retired participants and approximately $22 billion in assets. Learn more at www.TEXPERS.org or www.TEXPERS.blogspot.com.

SOURCE TEXPERS