Firefighters Heat Things Up At Jungle Island
MIAMI (CBS4)-Wednesday may have been Administrative Professionals Day, a day where the boss recognize and appreciate all the hard work performed by their assistants, but at Jungle Island it was the administrative assistants who were doing the appreciating – of hard bodied firefighters.
The 16th annual Secretary Luncheon, which was held at the usually kid friend attraction, served up plates of 'man candy'.
"I took a vacation day to be here," Helen Diaz said.
Thirty local firemen peeled off the layers of their heavy uniform and bared their hard bodies in the name of charity.
"We're supporting the hard working men of the Miami-Dade Fire department and their hard working abs," said Mari Lopez.
Dozens of firemen compete to be in the calendar and make public appearances, with the 13 most popular picked to serve as the cover guy and 12 months of the year.
Traditionally there are two months featuring a firefighter and his children, and one month with a hunk in the "Over 40" category. The vast majority of months are taken by guys who compete in the "Open" category, dominated by single guys under 40.
The firemen do a series of public appearances at malls, nightclubs, sports and entertainment venues and festivals, starting with opening weekend in August and running through January.
Every year the MVPs – the guys who sold the most calendars and showed the most leadership at events – are invited back the following year to appear on a bonus page.
During the luncheon the ladies got to choose which sexy firefighters will appear in the 2012 South Florida Firefighters calendar; the proceeds of which benefit a number of local charities.
"If it wasn't for organization and fundraisers like this our organization wouldn't exist," said Betty Fritz from Friends Forever Rescue.
Tickets to the event included an Ultra VIP table of 10 people for $5,000, a VIP table of 10 for $1,000 or other tickets in the front, middle and third row, which ranged from $600 to $400. Limited single seating for the event was $60.
To date, the non-profit organization has raised over $240,000 to benefit charities such as the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Habitat for Humanity's Hurricane Andrew Fund, Ronald McDonald Children's Charities, Best Buddies and Cystic Fibrosis. It also benefits Neighbors 4 Neighbors, a non-profit organization founded by CBS 4 connecting those in need with those who can help, www.Neighbors4Neighbors.org.
To order the 2011 calendar, visit their Web site.
