On Aug. 5, local first responders gathered at Zeidler Square Park for free coffee thanks to Ready Rebound and Fire Department Coffee. The event attracted about 50 local first responders.
“It was refreshing that there was something specifically held for them. There’s no ask from anybody. It was just, ‘Show up, have a good time,’” said Alec Wons, an account executive at Ready Rebound, which organized the event with Fire Department Coffee.
Ready Rebound was founded in 2015 by Luis Rivera to provide first responders and their families with sports medicine-level care, including rapid diagnostics, concierge support and a streamlined recovery processes. Since its inception, the company has partnered with over 390 departments across 20 states.
It’s time to pick your Milwaukee favorites for the year!
Wons joined Ready Rebound in 2022 after graduating from Marquette University. “It’s funny because, what I went to school for I didn’t necessarily end up doing, but I found more fulfillment and purpose than I ever thought I could have in work and life by serving those who protect us,” Wons said.
After a year of working for Ready Rebound, he started The Chief Exchange podcast, a weekly interview series with first responders. “I got the idea [for the event] because I was talking with chiefs and first responders every day,” Wons said. “There are so many good things that they’re doing each day that just don’t get the credit they deserve. I want to be able to highlight the great that chiefs and departments are doing.”
The idea for the free coffee truck came when Fire Department Coffee, a Rockford, Illinois based company, reached out to Wons and Ready Rebound looking to collaborate. The two companies joined together to serve local first responders free of charge.
“To me, the benchmark [for success] was, ‘Do they show up?’” says Molly Mulcahy, Ready Rebound’s Chief Marketing Officer. “It was really moving to see them all show up. … They were there, they felt the love, they felt the support, and we were able to say thank you in person. … We saw the success of the event, so [we’re now considering] what are other communities across the country we can give thanks to.”
