Privacy Policy

The Firehouse Dream (“TFD”) values and respects your concerns about privacy and the trust you have placed in us. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. We have developed this Privacy Policy (“Policy”) to help you understand the types of personally-identifiable information we collect on this website, how we may use that information, and with whom we may share it. Our Policy also describes the measures we take to protect the security of the information you provide when using this website. In addition, we describe the choices you can make about how we use the information you provide to us through this website. We tell you how you can update your contact information, remove your name from our mailing list, or answer any questions you may have about our privacy practices.

TFD reserves the right to change our information practices and the terms of this Policy, and to apply the changed practices to all information we have about you. You should check the page from time to time to ensure you are satisfied with any changes.  If you do not agree with or are not comfortable with any actions described in this Policy, your remedy is to discontinue use of this website.  This Policy is effective from April 28, 2021.

What types of information does TFD collect about me from my use of this website and how does TFD use the information?
We may collect and use personally identifying information, such as your name, address, email address, telephone number, and/or other information about you to communicate with you about our services, promotions, programs, and events, and to customize our communications in those areas. We also collect information to improve your website experience, connect volunteers and partners with our work, process internship applications, and enable you to make donations to TFD.  Here are the ways we obtain information about you and the types of information we obtain:

• Information You Voluntarily Submit: TFD collects information in several ways from different parts of this site. TFD may collect personally identifying information from you when you apply or sign up for a program, initiative, or event.  TFD also may ask you for personally identifying information at other times, such as when you ask a question, submit a comment, or report a problem with this site.  If you contact TFD, TFD may keep a record of that session or correspondence, including a record of your e-mail address.  There also may be services on this site that require you to fill out an online form or send TFD an e-mail message in order to utilize these services.  TFD collects any information that you provide in such circumstances, including any personal information.

• Subscribe for Our Newsletter. When you ask us to send you our news and updates, you provide us with your email address so we can fulfill your request.

• Contact Us Link. If you contact us via our website, we may ask you for information such as your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can respond to your questions or comments. Unless we inform you otherwise, we do not retain this information except to respond to your inquiries.

• Processing Donations. When you make an online donation, we ask for your contact information and credit card or checking information so we can process your donation. We use this information for that purpose and to customize our communication with you. TFD will not share or sell a donor’s personal information with anyone else, nor send donor mailings on behalf of non-TFD organizations.

• Cookies. Like many organizations, we use cookies and log files on our website. Cookies are small text files that websites often store on the computer hard drives of visitors to their sites. A cookie contains a unique code, which is used to recognize your computer when a user of your computer returns to a website that was visited previously. Log files are small text files that websites automatically create when a user visits a site. We use cookies and log files to enhance the online experience of our visitors and to better understand how our site is used. Cookies and log files may tell us, for example, whether you have visited our site before or whether you are a new visitor.
  
  The “help” portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookies, how to be notified when you receive a new cookie, and how to disable existing cookies. Remember, though, without cookies, you may not be able to take full advantage of all our website features.

• Special Offers and Instant Coupons. From time to time, we may offer you discounts and rewards provided by our supporters. When you choose to download any special offers or instant coupons from our websites, we do not collect any personal information about you.

• Participate in Contests and Sweepstakes. When you sign up to participate in one of our contests or sweepstakes, you may provide us with information such as your name or email address. We may use the information to enter you in the contest or sweepstakes and contact you if you win. Also, unless you previously asked us not to send you our newsletter, we will add your email address to our newsletter list. If you do not want to receive information about TFD, you may choose not to participate in our contests and sweepstakes.

  Does TFD share the information it obtains about me with third parties?
  TFD does not share personal information about you with any third parties for their own marketing purposes. We do share this information with vendors we have retained to perform services on our behalf, such as those that process credit card transactions. These vendors may have their own privacy policies that may apply, but they are not authorized by us to use or disclose the information except as necessary to perform services on our behalf or to comply with legal requirements. We also may disclose information about you to sponsorship partners solely with respect to tracking and enhancing campaigns in furtherance of our mission and as required by law.

  TFD may disclose information it collects through this site when required to do so by a court, regulatory agency, subpoena, law, regulation, or other body of competent jurisdiction and authority, and for administrative and other purposes that TFD deems necessary to maintain,service, and improve its products and services and to protect its rights and property. Finally, if you become involved in any violation of security, violation of this website’s Terms of Use, or violation of any party’s or third party’s rights, TFD may release information about you to assist in investigating, resolving, or remediating any such incidents.

  How does TFD protect personal information?
  The security of personal information is a high priority for us. We maintain online and offline safeguards to protect against unauthorized disclosure, use, alteration, and destruction of the personal information in our possession. To protect the security of your credit card information, we use the industry standard for Internet security -- Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology. This Internet encryption standard scrambles data as it travels from your computer to our server. You’ll know that you’re in a secure area of our website when the “http” portion of the TFD website address in your browser changes to “https.” The “s” stands for “secure.” When we work with other companies to process credit card transactions, many of those companies also use encryption and/or other security measures. If you prefer not to make a financial donation online, you may also send a check to: The Firehouse Dream, 511 Saint Charles Road, Maywood, IL 60153.
  
  While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (for example, donations) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/ systems in which we store personally identifiable information are kept secure through passwords and third-party security controls.

  Does the TFD website contain links to other websites?
  The TFD website may contain links to other websites that operate independently of TFD and are not under our control. We provide links to those sites solely for your convenience and information. We encourage users to be aware when they leave our site and to look at the privacy notices for any websites that collect personally identifiable information. TFD is not responsible for information that is provided by those sites or for any other use of the sites. 

  How can I update my contact information?
  Please email us to indicate that you would want to change the contact information we have for you. Please email us from the email address we would have on file so we can verify ownership.

  Email us at connect@thefirehousedream.org

  Will I receive email from TFD?
  We will send you email only if you have provided us with your email address and have asked us to communicate with you this way.

  What if I prefer not to receive communications from TFD?
  You may always unsubscribe from our emails by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email.  Or you may email us to indicate that you would like to unsubscribe from our mailings. Please email us from the email address we would have on file so we can verify ownership. 

  Email us at connect@thefirehousedream.org

  If you have any questions about this Policy or TFD’s privacy practices or if you feel that we are not abiding by this Policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at 708-941-1252 or via email to at connect@thefirehousedream.org

  DATED: April 28, 2021