The Michael C Kalal
Heart of Gold Charity​

Have you ever met a person that you knew instantly they were more than your typical individual?  This was Michael C. Kalal: always thinking of others, putting them first, and putting his own needs last.  I am proud to say, that this was my husband.  He was put on this Earth to serve his fellow man, constantly and consistently in any way he could.

Michael was an advocate for first responders for as long as I can remember.  In his memory and honor, the Michael C Kalal Heart of Gold Charity was established to continue his giving.  

Our Mission is to secure safety equipment for our First Responders that is either not covered or under covered by municipal budgets.  Examples of what this might entail:

– Bullet Proof Vests
– Dash Cams
– Body Cams
– AED Devices
– Flashlights


You might ask yourself, why would firefighters need bullet-proof vests?  Firefighting is an inherently dangerous job and in Geauga County, all firefighters are cross trained as EMTs and Paramedics. They can face unexpected threats on a daily basis – including domestic violence and public threat events. The Paramedic/EMT is now placed directly in harm’s way while attempting to render aid to a victim, running the risk of becoming a victim themselves.  There have also been some recent events in which fires has been intentionally set to lure firefighters and first responders with the intent to harm them in an ambush. We are committed to doing what we can to equip first responders to be safe in all situations.