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Founded in 2020, Exact Life, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to provide tangible, hands-on programs, support, and resources to marginalized and at-risk youth, the intellectual and developmental disabilities community, and to first responders and their families.
Exact Life, Inc. was founded by Zachary Edwards, the Director of Youth & Family Services for Fire Life Training, Fire Wife Life, and the Fire Family. Zachary is a Certified Life Coach with an emphasis on youth and family dynamics. Together with his parents (Todd, a retired Fire Chief who now instructs nationally on leadership, fire tactics, and live fire, and Kathy, a 30 year- national non-profit Management Consultant) Zac has brought his vision of "everyone being able to live the exact life they choose" to life.
The organization offers the following four programs:
Youth Life
So many young people today are at risk, bullied, and marginalized within their schools and communities. Socio-economic status and educational & medical disparities create a gap for many children in today's society. Through free youth and family coaching, national resource gathering, and financial support, Exact Life is committed to meaningful and hands-on programs to better the lives of youth.
The Disabilities
Life Fund –
Breaking Barriers
Children, self-advocates, and adults with intellectual disabilities are often treated differently. Instead of focusing on people's abilities and that we are more alike than different, the community at large focuses on the disability they see in front of them.
One of the most significant gaps we see is that of the first responder and individuals and families of those with intellectual disabilities. In 2019 Fire Life Training created "Breaking Barriers," a highly interactive training for first responders, which teaches them how to interact with, and serve, individuals within the disabilities community.
In January of 2022, we added the additional piece of providing interactive training sessions for individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families, led by first responders, on what to expect in an emergency.
Now under the 501(c)(3) arm of the company, we work diligently to provide these programs nationally, at no charge, to the first responder organizations and to the families and community organizations that live and work with individuals with disabilities.
This flagship program is in great demand and has been created in partnership with first responders, individuals with down syndrome and autism, and their families.
Read more about Breaking Barriers here: https://www.firelifetrainingassociates.com/breaking-barriers
The Fire Family Fund
The Fire Family Fund is set up to respond in two ways:
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Provide financial aid to families of firefighters in need of medical care, mental health treatment, or through times of trouble.
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No cost youth life coaching for the children of firefighters
Read more about the Fire Family here: https://www.firewifelife.org/the-fire-family
The Fire Wife Life
Fund
In May of 2021, after working with a small group of firefighter spouses on a retreat, we started Fire Wife Life, a company that supports firefighters' wives across the country and beyond!
The Fire Wife Fund exists to provide financial support for wives who are struggling.
Read more about Fire Wife Life here: https://www.firewifelife.org/