Firefighters Union Golf Event Funds Mental Health Care
Local Firefighters Union 152 raised money through an annual golf tournament to pay for free mental health services for first responders.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Local Firefighters Union 152 held its annual golf tournament, with 144 firefighters participating, to fund free mental health counseling for first responders. In 2025, 460 local first responders received mental health services at no cost.
Why it matters
Firefighters see far more traumatic events over their careers than the average person does in a lifetime, and some of those experiences are not processed without additional support. The union's fundraising is aimed at removing the financial barrier that can keep first responders from seeking counseling.
Local Firefighters Union 152 reports that 460 first responders received free mental health services in 2025, and 144 firefighters took part in the fundraising tournament. The extraction does not disclose the total dollars raised or the cost per visit.
The players
Local Firefighters Union 152
A Springfield, Missouri firefighters union that runs an annual fundraiser to provide free mental health counseling to first responders.
Scott Guccione
The director of Local Firefighters Union 152, who has spent 28 years in the fire service.
Colton Reid
A firefighter who helped organize the union's golf tournament fundraiser.
The details
Local Firefighters Union 152 raises money each year through a golf tournament organized in part by firefighter Colton Reid, and the funds pay for mental health visits that firefighters receive at no cost. The union's director, Scott Guccione, who has been in the fire service for 28 years, leads the effort.
Timeline
2025: 460 local first responders received free mental health services.
November 2, 2026: The annual golf tournament fundraiser was held with 144 firefighters participating.
Philanthropy Trend
Local firefighter unions have increasingly funded mental health counseling directly through their own fundraising rather than relying solely on employer benefits. Springfield's Local Firefighters Union 152 follows this model by using a golf tournament to cover visits that first responders might otherwise forgo.
Firefighters and other first responders in the Springfield area can receive mental health counseling at no cost through the union's funded program. The fundraising model means that the financial cost of a counseling visit is not a barrier for those who participate.
The takeaway
Mental health support for high-stress jobs can be funded through peer-led fundraising, not just employer benefits. Readers interested in helping can look for similar first responder support programs in their own communities.
Further reading
Explore more Springfield philanthropy coverage for other local giving efforts.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ozarks First.
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