6 July 2021

I, Patti Kidwell, Secretary/Treasurer of the Past President’s Club to the Ladies Auxiliary to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association (AACVFA) and chairperson of the AACVFA Hall of Fame committee, am submitting the name of Hellen Cullum of the former Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company (RBVFC) Ladies Auxiliary.

Hellen joined the RBVFC Ladies Auxiliary with her husband in December of 1962.  She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary.   She served as Secretary in 1980, 1981, 1984, and 1985.  Her husband served by her side at Riviera Beach Fire Company until his passing in 1990.  When the RBVFC Ladies Auxiliary disbanded due to declining membership, Hellen became more active in the fire company side of the house.

A few years after her husband’s passing, she met her soul mate, Carlo Rossi. Together they raised and donated $18,000 enabling RBVFC to obtain one of the first thermal imager cameras in the county. Hellen and Carlo raised and donated $5,000 for the Sparky the dog costume which is used to help advocate the needs of fire prevention and today’s youth. Over the many years as an active member of the RBVFC Ladies Auxiliary and RBVFC, she has selflessly assisted with many fundraisers.

Hellen was instrumental both actively and financially in the development of the Little Chief and Miss Fire Prevention pageants that ran annually for over 12 years which was instrumental in youth engagement enhancing diversity in the fire service. She increased fire prevention education at both the station and the county level by encouraging the youth to demonstrate their knowledge of fire prevention during interviews for fire department pageants and the Little Chief program. In addition, she raised and donated most of the funds for the program. These programs have left a lifelong impact to those youth involved and influenced change in the volunteer fire service.

Hellen was a regular attendee of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association and Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association meetings.

 Hellen is now 90 years old and a life member of 59 years at RBVFC.  She currently participates in fundraisers and company meetings when she is able. Her lifetime of helping her community is most deserving of entry in the Ladies Auxiliary to the Anne Arundel Volunteer Firefighters Hall of Fame.

Respectfully submitted,

PATTI KIDWELL
Secretary/Treasurer
Past President’s Club