CALIFORNIA FIRE FOUNDATION
Proud mom — Kyle Costamagna (center) and his brother Dylan (left) with their mother, Caroyln. The two graduated Cal Poly with help from Daniel A. Terry Scholarships for the children of fallen firefighters.
BUILDING A BRIGHTER FUTURE
The Daniel A. Terry Scholarship Program
Providing hope in the face of struggle and loss is at the heart of the California Fire Foundation’s mission to serve fallen firefighters, their families and the communities they protect. Firefighters never forget the families of their fallen brothers and sisters, and neither does the Foundation.
The Costamagna family knows that commitment is more than just words.
A little more than two decades ago, Kyle Costamagna and his younger brother Dylan saw a big part of their world come crashing down when their father, Fremont firefighter Larry Costamagna, died in the line of duty. As they grew up, the two aspired to a college education. The Foundation’s Daniel A. Terry Scholarship program, a cornerstone of the California Fire Foundation, helped them on that path.
Each year, the California Fire Foundation awards scholarships to the children of fallen firefighters to help them pursue their dreams. Last year, the Foundation awarded 21 scholarships to the children of fallen firefighters who will each receive the $2,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four years, for a total award package of up to $8,000.
For many, including Kyle and Dylan, the Daniel A. Terry Scholarship can be life-changing. With the assist of a 2013 scholarship, Kyle was able to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic Institute (Cal Poly). The continued support has helped him finish paramedic school. “I am fulfilling my dream of following in my father’s footsteps and becoming a firefighter paramedic,” Kyle said. “I can’t thank the Foundation enough.
Dylan’s 2016 scholarship also helped him earn a degree from Cal Poly. Like his brother, he is hoping to follow in his father’s footsteps, having recently graduated from the Allan Hancock College Fire Acade-my. “The Daniel A. Terry Scholarship provided me with the financial means to further my education,” said Dylan, “and build a foundation for a successful future.”
Applications for the 2021 Daniel A. Terry Scholarship awards are now being accepted. The scholarship is open to all children of fallen California firefighters. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2021. Find more information at cafirefoundation.org/scholarships.