SERVPRO Set to Kick Off Fifth First Responder Bowl: Hometown heroes are the focus of annual college bowl game set for Dec. 27

​In recognition of the service and sacrifice of thousands of first responders nationwide, SERVPRO will host the fifth annual SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The University of Memphis Tigers will face off against the Utah State University Aggies. Kickoff is set for December 27, 2022, at 3:15 Eastern Standard Time on ESPN.

"This game shines a spotlight on hometown heroes across the country," said Ryan Wolfe, a disaster restoration specialist with SERVPRO of Lawrence, Owen, Greene & Martin Cos.. "We are proud to be part of a company that honors all first responders for willingly putting the welfare of others ahead of their own personal safety."

Nationwide, SERVPRO franchises, including Lawrence, Owen, Greene & Martin Cos., were asked to submit the name of a first responder from their hometown to be considered for special recognition at the game. This year, SERVPRO is honoring Cpl. Phillip Zonn and POFC. Geobani Guerra of the Prince George's County (Maryland) Police Department. Zonn and Guerra were both separately traveling home from their shift when they approached a vehicle that had been involved in an accident. The two officers bravely worked to cut the unconscious and injured driver free from the burning vehicle before it was engulfed in flames.

The First Responder Bowl caps off a year of significant support from SERVPRO for first responder communities across the country. Following Hurricane Ian, SERVPRO, in partnership with First Responders Children's Foundation (FRCF), a nonprofit organization that aids the children and families of first responders, provided $150,000 in financial grants to 80 first responders affected by the storm. (https://1strcf.org/ian/). In addition, SERVPRO performed, at no charge, mitigation services to begin restoring the homes of ten first responders affected by Ian.

SERVPRO is also celebrating community and individual participation in the game. First responders nationwide will enjoy the game with first responder tailgate boxes, filled with tailgate goodies, purchased by their local SERVPRO franchisee and delivered to their local fire stations and public safety offices in time for the game. Fans in the Bloomington area can show their support for first responders by taking and posting a selfie with the hashtag #MySelfieGives while watching the game in person or on TV. SERVPRO will donate $100, up to $25,000, to the FRCF for each selfie posted during the game.

Tickets for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl are available now at https://www.firstresponderbowl.com/ticket-op. First responders are eligible for up to four complimentary tickets to the game. SERVPRO, as a presenting sponsor, also honors first responders at 12 additional bowl games, including the Armed Forces Bowl and the Frisco Bowl, with the "Honor a Responder" award.

SERVPRO specializes in disaster cleaning, restoration, and construction services, helping to remediate damage, making it "Like it never even happened," for both commercial and residential customers. For more information on SERVPRO of Lawrence, Owen, Greene & Martin Cos., please contact Ryan Wolfe at (812) 275-2244 or rwolfe@servproofmarion.com. For more information about SERVPRO, please visit www.servpro.com