RAIDERS PRESENT COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK AWARD TO LOCAL FIREFIGHTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) June 25, 2004 --

The Oakland Raiders announced Fremont firefighter Jeff Place and canine partner Zack from The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (www.SearchDogUsa.org) as winners of the 2004 Oakland Raiders� NFL Community Quarterback Award. Each year The Oakland Raiders present this tremendous honor to individuals that truly deserve recognition for their exceptional service to the community. The Raiders put much emphasis on the NFL Community Quarterback, a national program, because it promotes individuals who exemplify leadership, dedication and commitment to improving communities in which they live through volunteerism.

As a volunteer for the Search Dog Foundation (SDF), Jeff and his canine partner (a Chocolate Labrador) train for one of the most demanding, dangerous jobs in the country: searching for people buried alive in disasters, and bringing them to safety. As part of Oakland Task Force 4, Jeff and Zack are ready at all times to search for survivors in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also on call for deployment throughout California and the United States. After the bombing of the World Trade Center, Jeff and Zack were deployed to Ground Zero as part of the Menlo Park Task Force, searching for survivors in perilous conditions for twelve days.



Debra Tosch, SDF Program Director, comments, �We are very proud of Jeff Place. Not only is he an excellent handler, he goes above and beyond the call of duty. Jeff volunteers his time to bring new handlers along to certification and sits on a state working group, improving the canine program, state and nationwide. Jeff truly does deserve to be the benefactor of this esteemed award.�

Raider team spokesman Artie Gigantino says of Jeff and his canine partner Zack. �Because of their dedication and determination to make an impact on the Oakland community, we salute their volunteerism. The Raiders are proud to present them with our award.�

ABOUT THE SEARCH DOG FOUNDATION

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prepare rescue dogs and partner them with firefighters to become the most highly trained canine search teams in the nation. The Foundation is responsible for training over 40% of all of the nation�s Advanced FEMA canine search teams and 80% of the State of California�s. Many of these dogs were once abandoned in shelters and now are helping to save lives � in other words, from rescued to rescuer. Website: www.SearchDogsUSA.org or call 1-888-4K9-HERO.