First in Service Friday: Matthew Chiarizio
FIRST IN SERVICE FRIDAY. Please help the City of Myrtle Beach congratulate Matthew Chiarizio for being this week's First in Service Friday Employee of the Week! Matt is a master firefighter at Station No. 1 with the Myrtle Beach Fire Department. He moved to Myrtle Beach eight years ago after working as a firefighter in Connecticut. He says the MBFD is a great department to work for! His nomination reads:
"I’d like to nominate Master Firefighter Matt Chiarizio for First in Service Friday.
Matt has been with the city for a little over six and a half years. Matt has been the “captain” of the MBFD hockey team for several years now. He pretty much handles everything; ordering jerseys, finding ice time for practice (which isn’t easy when the closest rink is 90 miles away), attaining sponsors and arranging games. The MBFD hockey team has played games in Wilmington, Charleston and Charlotte. They've played against opponents from as far away as Baltimore. The best thing about the games is that all of the proceeds from these games have gone to a charity. Most recently, the MBFD hockey team played the Charleston Fire Department, but the beneficiary of this charity game hit much closer to home.
MBFD firefighter Mike Rapp was diagnosed with an occupational-related cancer last year. This means the type of cancer he has is directly related to his career as a firefighter under South Carolina’s presumptive cancer act. Matt wanted to do something to help his fellow firefighter. He wanted to show him that he is loved and supported, but also to help him with his medical expenses. Matt organized the game that took place in Wilmington. He was able to work out the opponent, get Firefighter Rapp there and keep it a secret that he was going to receive the proceeds. Needless to say, Firefighter Rapp was extremely surprised when he was presented with an MBFD hockey jersey, told that he would receive the proceeds and was honored by doing the ceremonial puck drop.
Matt is certainly a team player and puts service above self. Matt’s efforts resulted in a large crowd and an outpouring of support to a fellow firefighter in his time of need."
That's awesome. Thank you for being #FirstinService. You are appreciated!