2012 firefighter calendar to benefit scholarship fund

The Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters has a stocking stuffer to offer: their 2012 calendar! This is their fifth year doing the calendar, and in it, many firefighters pose with their children, or with school children from their community service efforts. All the money raised will benefit a scholarship program for kids who want to become firefighters.

Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters President Everette Cocroft says the scholarships are geared toward minority freshman entering the field of fire sciences. Cocroft says there are currently 95 African-American firefighters in the Milwaukee Fire Department out of 868, which is a little more than 10 percent. Cocroft says they're expected to lose 25 to 30 of those firefighters over the next year or two, so they're hoping the scholarship incentive will be an effective recruitment tool.

"In a city that's a majority/minority city, it would be nice to see a workforce that has a semblance of diversity, and that's our goal, and that's the city's goal as well," Cocroft said.

Calendars are on sale any Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. through March at Pick 'N Save stores on Good Hope Road, Brown Deer Road, Midtown, and Sam's Club on 76th and Calumet.