Denis Leary | Leary Foundation | Leary Firefighters
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Dear Friend,
As President of The Leary Firefighters Foundation, I have spent the last eight years talking about how we take firefighters for granted. We all know that there is never enough money to get them the equipment and training that they need.
But here's the thing about firefighters.
They do their job because they care about us and they care about keeping their communities safe. Regardless of what kind of equipment they are working with or what kind of training they have, firefighters will always make do.
The mission of The Leary Firefighters Foundation is to bridge the gap in public funding so that firefighters have the best available equipment and training to meet the extraordinary challenges of a very dangerous job.
Since the Foundation was established in 2000, we have committed more than $10 million to crucial programs for fire departments in New York, Boston, Worcester, Massachusetts, and New Orleans.
In January 2008, the groundbreaking ceremony for our new High-Rise Simulator for the FDNY was held at their Fire Academy on Randall’s Island. This state-of-the-art training simulator is designed to produce real-life fire and building conditions and help firefighters improve their skills in combating the difficulties of fighting fires in high-rise buildings and performing rescues under extreme conditions. It is scheduled for completion at year’s end. The practical skills learned through exercise in the Simulator will build the firefighter's knowledge and confidence and serve as an important tool in addressing the safety of both civilians and rescue personnel.
With the anticipated completion of the New Orleans Firehouse Restoration Project in 2008, The Foundation will realize a goal envisioned in 2005 following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Following a donation of 15 search and rescue boats to the New Orleans Fire Department, The Leary Firefighters Foundation made a commitment to restore 11 firehouses rendered uninhabitable. The New Orleans Fire Department lost 22 of their 33 firehouses during the storm and after the disastrous breach of the levees. This milestone in the rebuilding of New Orleans has been accomplished using volunteer union labor, construction material donations, and corporate support. Rebuilding these facilities is a humanitarian commitment, assuring displaced citizens they will have protection and support when they return, providing a significant boost to the safety and morale of the great city.
At the heart of all the Leary Foundation's grant making is the desire to give firefighters a better chance of returning home to their families at the end of the day, and to ensure that each one of us and our loved ones will be more likely to survive a life-threatening fire.
I thank you for your interest in The Leary Firefighters Foundation and invite you to explore this website to learn more about supporting the Foundation's important work.
Denis Leary
President