Robert Garland

CEO

As an active first responder, Robert Garland has seen firsthand the hardships that the brave men and women who serve their communities face both on and off duty. As CEO and Founder of Fund the First, his sole mission is to provide a trustworthy platform where fellow first responders, members of the military and their families can get financial support in times of need.

The inspiration for Fund the First came when Robert set out to help his superior officer who was facing mounting medical expenses related to his daughter’s rare illness. As he researched the best ways to raise money, he realized his brothers and sisters in blue were skeptical of existing crowdfunding sites. It was then, Robert made the decision to build a better platform that all first responders and military can trust.

In 2017, with a passion for entrepreneurship and a tenacious will to help those in need, Robert built his organization from the ground up. In July, 2020, after three years of development, Robert and the co-founding team formally launched what has quickly become the nation’s leading crowdfunding platform for first responders and military!

Beyond Fund the First, Robert is a decorated Detective with the New York City Police Department where he specializes in complex investigations. During his 12 years in law enforcement, Robert has worked in various roles and the NYPD’s Narcotics Division which included various joint interagency operations with the Department of Homeland Security and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Well respected in his field, Robert also serves as an expert witness to the Office of Special Narcotics New York.

Prior to his career in law enforcement, philanthropic and entrepreneurial endeavors, Robert attended New York Institute of Technology where he majored in behavioral sciences and played outfield for their Division I baseball program. When he’s not protecting and serving the people of the five boroughs, or helping first responders and military personnel in need, Robert can be found spending time with his three children. Massapequa raised, Robert continues to be a fixture in the local community as a volunteer baseball coach and Director of Technology for Massapequa Coast Little League. Robert also serves as the Chairman to the Fallen First Reserve non-profit organization and a podcast host on Heroes First Podcast.