Where do the worlds of firefighting, philanthropy, and show business intersect? Look no further than to Mamie Coleman, a 32-year executive with Fox Entertainment and a three-year Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Foundation Board Member.
The entertainment industry and firefighters are perhaps an unlikely pair, but Coleman struck gold when she began engaging her career to amplify the LAFD Foundation’s footprint and put the needs of the LAFD on the desks of a uniquely influential audience.
At the height of COVID-19 in 2020, Coleman explored ways to connect Fox talent and LAFD personnel to highlight first responders and other essential workers on the frontlines of the pandemic. She coordinated a 10-minute interview featuring Rob Lowe, the leading actor of Fox’s Lone Star 911 show, and then-LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas, discussing the impacts of the pandemic on first responders, and ways for citizens to show their support.
“It was important to show camaraderie between a television series about firefighters and the actual Chief of the Fire Department,” Coleman shared.
She also worked closely with Fox’s marketing team on #CandlesforHeroes, wherein Fox prompted users via social media to light a candle at 8:00 P.M. for all frontline workers and first responders. Coleman’s team even produced an original song to support the campaign. “We created alternative avenues for artist involvement,” Coleman said of leveraging her Fox network to support the work of the LAFD even before joining the LAFD Foundation Board and making her first donation.
After years of brushing shoulders with the Foundation, Coleman felt personally compelled to donate to LAFD Fire Station 27 in Hollywood and adopted Fire Station 27 through the LAFD Foundation’s Adopt-A-Fire-Station program in 2021.
LAFD Foundation President Liz Lin reached out to Coleman through a mutual friend shortly thereafter, and once the two were introduced, “the rest was history,” Coleman stated.
“I’m involved in various initiatives that aim to make a difference in this world,” Coleman emphasized. “But one of the most commendable aspects of the Foundation’s work lies in its pivotal role in bridging the financial gap that exists within the LAFD due to the City’s budget limitations.”
As an ardent supporter of gender equality and female empowerment, Coleman was particularly thrilled by the appointment of the first female LAFD Fire Chief, Kristin Crowley, in 2022. In March 2023, Coleman invited Chief Crowley to participate in a panel as part of Fox Entertainment’s Female Mentor Program, which featured women leaders who are shattering barriers and excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields.
“Looking ahead, I’m eager to orchestrate events and initiatives that embody our shared commitment to enriching and giving back to our community in profound ways,” Coleman emphasized.
“The Foundation serves as an invaluable platform for philanthropic individuals like myself seeking to make meaningful impact in their local communities,” she added, underscoring the significant role that donors play in supporting the tireless efforts of LAFD firefighters.
“In a city as sprawling and dynamic as Los Angeles, it is important to ensure the effectiveness and the preparedness of our Los Angeles firefighters and fire stations.”
Coleman hesitates to call herself a “philanthropist” outright, but her work and impact show otherwise. She is actively involved in community service work with the Rho Epsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate historically Black sorority of which she is a member. She currently serves as co-chair of the TV and Film Committee for She Is The Music, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing the representation of women across the music industry.
Coleman is also a member and mentor with the Asian American Collective, a nonprofit organization that promotes Asian American representation. As an avid marathon runner, she continues to raise support for cancer research, caregivers, and patients through various marathons and races around the world, inspired by her sister and mother, who are both survivors of breast cancer. Coleman also recently joined the charity marathon team for NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
As for the Foundation, Coleman is enthusiastic about encouraging others to understand the needs of the LAFD and give back to local firefighters. “By supporting the Foundation, you're not only investing in your local fire stations, but you’re also showing appreciation for the men and women who serve the City of Los Angeles with unwavering dedication,” she emphasized.
“It’s something important that I think everybody should be a part of.”
