AURORA, Ill. (August 23, 2017) – This week, Virginia Police Lieutenant Andy Wilburn of the Radford City Police Department was selected as the recipient of the 2017 Aftermath Why We Serve Service Grant. The service grant was sponsored by Aurora-based biohazard remediation company Aftermath Services, which provides professional trauma and crime scene cleanup to families and businesses nationwide.

Applicants for the grant were asked to submit short videos of why they chose to serve and how they would use the grant to help improve their community. Four finalists were chosen and over 13,000 people from across the country watched and voted for their favorite charitable cause. The competition was close until the very last hour of the 10-day voting period.

With over 3,700 votes, Lt. Wilburn is the winner and recipient of the Aftermath Why We Serve Service Grant. He will receive $5,000 to benefit the Radford chapter of the Help Save the Next Girl Foundation. Aftermath also awarded a $1,000 grant to 1^st runner up, Community Engagement Officer Scott Marks of the Minnetonka Police Department in Minnetonka, MN. Officer Janie Staples of the St. Petersburg Police Department in St. Petersburg, FL and Deputy Brittany Whitcomb of the Office of the Fayette County Sheriff in Fayette, KY each received a $500 grant as the 2^nd and 3^rdrunners up.

Help Save the Next Girl (HSNG) was formed in honor of Morgan Dana Harrington, a 20-year-old Virginia Tech student who was abducted and murdered in 2009. HSNG aims to sensitize young women and girls to predatory dangers, while fostering mutual respect and camaraderie with young men, and developing vital relationships with media and law enforcement to augment safety practices in our communities. Branches of the organization now exist in cities and on high school and college campuses across the US.

Lt. Wilburn has served with the Radford City PD for over 20 years and began his involvement with the HSNG Foundation last year. He partnered with the local HSNG representative to proactively educate community members, particularly high school and college students, on the topics of safety, awareness, and personal responsibility. Not only is Lt. Wilburn passionate about advocating the HSNG message, but he is committed to connecting with and engaging the community, particularly the younger audience, on platforms that they use on a daily basis. Through the Aftermath Why We Serve Grant, he will be able to accelerate that vision. The $5,000 will go toward building programs and creating interactive media content to educate kids, students, and young adults on predatory dangers and safety practices.

Aftermath Services routinely works alongside police and other first responders to provide high quality and compassionate crime scene cleanup and trauma cleaning services to families and businesses. The company also proactively assists with training and education on topics such as bloodborne pathogen safety and the appropriate use of PPE to law enforcement and other agencies.

As the nation’s largest dedicated crime scene cleanup company, Aftermath proudly recognizes the spirit of volunteerism embodied by many of our nation’s law enforcement. The Why We Serve Grant is just one aspect of the Aftermath Cares program, which aims to acknowledge first responders for their ongoing efforts to protect and improve their communities.

About Aftermath Services LLC

For over 20 years, Aftermath Services has provided families and businesses nationwide with professional and compassionate cleanup services after traumatic situations such as homicide, suicide, and unattended death. No matter where you are, our technicians will work tirelessly to ensure that your home or business is safe and livable once again. If you have experienced a tragic situation in your home or place of business, Aftermath is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more immediate assistance with trauma cleaning services, please call (877) 872-4339.

For additional information on future law enforcement grants and contests, or to learn more about the relationship between Aftermath and law enforcement, visit www.aftermath.com