TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal Jimmy presented Israeli Consul General Maor Elbaz-Starinsky with 20 challenge coins to honor the Israel Defense Force members who responded to the Surfside building collapse last summer. For the past month, CFO Patronis has distributed nearly 360 challenge coins to all of Florida’s task force heroes as a part of his “Year of the US&R” statewide tour. Additionally, the Consul General presented CFO Patronis a Hamsa, a wish for good luck and success. 

CFO and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis said, “It was an honor to meet with Israeli Consul General Maor Elbaz-Starinsky today to recognize the brave members of the Israel Defense Force who responded to the condo collapse in Surfside. Surfside was a tragedy on a mass scale, and the members of the Israeli Defense Force fought, and kept fighting, for any hopes of life. These heroes brought a tremendous amount of expertise and they served as an incredible compliment to the mission. The bonds between Israel and Florida run deep and we’ll never forget the support they brought to South Florida. The men and women of Israel offered their full support when we needed them most, and I am incredibly thankful for them and their service.”

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).