343 Miles of Purpose: Building Momentum at Broadway in the Park
Despite sweltering NYC heat on Thursday, August 6th, Friends of Firefighters stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners at Livestrong for Broadway in the Park. This free community event brought incredible live Broadway performances to lunch-break crowds while giving us a powerful platform to share our mission with neighbors and global tourists alike.
Riding for Resilience and Raising Awareness Our team was out in full force to build momentum for our Ride for Resilience cyclists as they prepare for wheels down on September 6th. This 5-day, 343-mile journey commemorates the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 while raising critical funding for culturally competent mental health and cancer support. Livestrong’s featured presence at the event underscored why this national partnership is so vital: as we approach 500 FDNY members lost to 9/11-related cancers, occupational cancer has become one of the greatest risks firefighters face throughout their careers.
Honoring Our Own on the Livestrong Wall Throughout the afternoon, park visitors stopped by the Livestrong community wall to write the names of survivors, those currently fighting, and loved ones lost to cancer. Our team made sure to add the names deeply personal to our riders and closest to our firehouse family, carrying their memory forward into every mile of our upcoming ride:
Every name written on that wall represents a story, a family, and a lasting legacy. As our 50 FDNY cyclists and 150 fellow riders gear up for September 6th, seeing these names side-by-side reminds us exactly why we ride, train, and advocate for best-in-class resources for our first responder community.
Thank you to Livestrong, and everyone who stopped by to stand with us
Honoring Tradition and Service: Friends of Firefighters at the 9/11 Memorial Flag Raising
Our Associate Director, Chrissy Neafsey, joined the Travis Manion Foundation NYC Chapter at the 9/11 Memorial for a deeply moving 250th Anniversary July 4th flag-raising ceremony.
The morning began at 7:30 AM with a ceremonial flag raising at the plaza, followed by volunteers placing American flags beside the names inscribed along the North and South Reflection Pools. Standing at Ground Zero alongside fellow community members, veterans, and supporters served as a powerful moment of reflection on our country’s history, the enduring spirit of service, and what it truly means to be a proud American.
Participating in community events with organizations like the Travis Manion Foundation reinforces the shared bond between active military, veterans, and first responders. Every flag placed honored a legacy of sacrifice and reminded us of our collective responsibility to support those who dedicate their lives to protecting others.
Friends of Firefighters is proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners across the first responder and veteran communities as we continue to show our deep gratitude to New York City's Bravest and all who serve.
Riding for Resilience: Our Peer Support Cycling Team Hits the Road for 343 Miles
As our Friends of Firefighters peer support cycling team logs early morning training miles, they are preparing for far more than a physical endurance test. They are using every ride as an extension of our core peer support mission—building community, fostering connection, and normalizing conversations around mental health across firehouses.
The 2026 First Responder Ride for Resilience From September 6–10, 2026, our team will join 200 total riders for a powerful 5-day, 343-mile journey from Boston to the World Trade Center Memorial in New York City. Acknowledging the 25th anniversary of September 11th, the ride honors the 343 FDNY firefighters lost that day and raises vital support for the physical and mental health challenges first responders face long after the sirens fade.
50 FDNY Members Leading the Pack: Among the 200 total participants, 50 FDNY firefighters will ride alongside first responders, survivors, and supporters.
343 Miles of Purpose: The 343-mile route serves as a living tribute to the 343 heroes of 9/11, converting every pedal stroke into tangible support for first responder families.
Three Mission-Driven Beneficiaries: Proceeds directly benefit Friends of Firefighters, Livestrong, and the Boston Fire Cancer Foundation, providing critical resources for occupational cancer and cumulative trauma.
Peer Support in Motion For our team, the training process itself is peer support in action. Long training rides offer active and retired firefighters an informal, low-pressure space to check in on each other, share stories, and process the day-to-day weight of the job. By turning training into a community-building tool, our cyclists continue to give back to the FDNY network, ensuring no firefighter carries operational stress alone.
How You Can Support
Sponsor a First Responder: Support individual firefighter registration fees and equipment costs at 911ride.org.
Cheer at the Finish Line: Join us on September 10th at the World Trade Center Memorial as our riders complete their 343-mile journey.
Donate to the Cause: Visit 911ride.org to contribute directly to our team's fundraising page and keep our mental health services 100% free for active FDNY members.
On behalf of Friends of Firefighters, we extend our deepest gratitude to Livestrong and Cadence Sports for their extraordinary partnership, operational mastery, and vision in bringing the Ride for Resilience to life.
Standing Ringside, Beachside, and Together: Thank You, FDNY Boxing Team and Paul Signs!
On behalf of everyone at Friends of Firefighters, we extend our deepest gratitude to the FDNY Boxing team for their unwavering support, partnership, and dedication to our mission year after year. There is truly nothing quite like the energy, camaraderie, and community spirit of the annual "Thrilla at Camilla." Spending an incredible summer night ringside and beachside in the Rockaways brings together the absolute best of our first responder family, showing what true solidarity looks like both inside and outside the ring.
This year, the FDNY Boxing team went above and beyond by donating an incredible $10,000 to Friends of Firefighters.
Generosity on this scale directly fuels our core commitment to provide free, confidential, and independent mental health and wellness support to active and retired FDNY firefighters and their families. We always look forward to this outstanding night on our calendar, coming together as a team, and celebrating the deep-rooted brotherhood and sisterhood that make events like this so special.
We also want to send a special callout and heartfelt thank you to Paul Signs, who provided our ceremonial check presentation.
Paul Signs consistently provides top-tier, high-quality signage that elevates our presence and ensures our message reaches those who need it most. Having reliable, community-centric partners who help us grow in our mission year after year allows us to keep our focus where it belongs: supporting the mental health, operational resilience, and overall well-being of the FDNY community.
To the entire FDNY Boxing team, Paul Signs, and everyone in the Rockaways community: thank you. Your dedication, generosity, and community spirit keep our operational foundation strong and our mission moving forward. We are already counting down the days until the next fight night!
Wheels Up in Honor of Aaron Clark: Florian Knights Memorial Ride Kick-Off at Rescue 1
There was no better place to rev engines and kick off the Florian Knights Memorial Ride than at Rescue 1 in Manhattan. Gathering at this iconic firehouse to honor the memory and legacy of firefighter Aaron Clark set a powerful tone for a ride grounded in brotherhood, remembrance, and purpose.
Riding for a Legacy Aaron Clark represented the very best of our fire service family. His legacy lives on at Friends of Firefighters through the founding of the Aaron Clark Peer Support Team—a formalized, peer-led initiative dedicated to substance abuse recovery, sober living resilience, suicide prevention, grief counseling, and critical incident debriefs for active and retired members. Every mile ridden by the Florian Knights honors Aaron’s memory and directly supports our promise that no firefighter or family member ever has to carry the weight of the job alone.
On behalf of Friends of Firefighters, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Florian Knights Motorcycle Club, the crew at Rescue 1, and everyone who came out to ride, donate, and cheer on the team. Keep the shiny side up, ride safe, and thank you for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our community.
Smokey Flavor, Stormy Weather, and Double Victories: Rib King 2026 at Industry City!
Not even a stormy Memorial Day weekend could dampen the spirits—or the appetites—at Industry City for Rib King 2026! Over 700 passionate foodies, first responders, and community supporters braved the weather to pack the courtyard, coming together for an unforgettable day of world-class barbecue, camaraderie, and community impact.
A Historic Clean Sweep for Brothers BBQ Huge congratulations are in order for Brothers BBQ, who completely dominated this year’s competition! Taking home top honors in both categories, Brothers BBQ made history by winning the Friends of Firefighters' People's Choice Award and being officially crowned Rib King 2026. Their legendary culinary skills won over both our celebrity judges—including actor and wrestler Brimstone—and the hundreds of attendees who cast their votes throughout the afternoon.
Firehouse Culinary Excellence at the FoF Chef Tent A major highlight of the day was right at our very own Friends of Firefighters Chef tent, where active FDNY Firefighter Chef Vinny DeGennaro (Engine 10 / Ladder 10) delivered a culinary masterclass. Chef Vinny surprised and delighted visitors with a spectacular short rib pâté served over crispy rice—a bite so inventive and delicious that it quickly became one of the most talked-about treats of the entire festival. Vinny’s dish showcased the incredible talent found inside NYC firehouse kitchens and embodied the creativity and passion our first responder family brings to everything they do.
Grateful for Food Karma Projects We extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible community partner, Food Karma Projects, for making this event such a resounding success. Jimmy Carbone and the Food Karma team continue to be steadfast allies of Friends of Firefighters, consistently bringing people together over exceptional food to lift up New York City’s Bravest. Food Karma’s dedication to our mission empowers us to raise vital awareness and funding for our free, confidential mental health and wellness programs for FDNY members and their families.
We are thrilled to continue strengthening this vital partnership in the months and years ahead—from seasonal cook-offs to upcoming culinary traditions like Brisket King & Pig Island—as we work together to serve those who protect our city. Thank you to everyone who came out, cooked, judged, and supported!
Unlocking Non-Verbal Healing: The Transformative Power of Equine-Assisted Learning
When members of our Aaron Clark Peer Support Team recently participated in equine-assisted learning facilitated by StandFast Alliance at Rising Starr Farms, the impact was immediate and profound. Equine therapy offers active and retired firefighters a unique, non-verbal environment to ground themselves, regulate stress, and process cumulative operational trauma outside the pressures of the firehouse. The non-judgmental nature of working with horses creates a safe space for real connection, emotional regulation, and psychological decompression alongside trusted peers.
The experience resonated so deeply with several members of our Aaron Clark Peer Support Team that they are now becoming regular volunteers at Rising Starr Farms. Watching our peer leaders step up to care for the horses and support farm operations perfectly reflects the core ethos of our peer support mission: first responders helping first responders, taking what they have gained in healing, and reinvesting it back into the community.
Expanding Our Horizon into 2027 Because of the overwhelming success and positive feedback from our team, Friends of Firefighters is thrilled to announce that we are officially deepening our partnership with StandFast Alliance and Rising Starr Farms as we head into 2027. Through this expanded collaboration, we will establish regular equine-assisted learning opportunities as a permanent pillar of our peer support and wellness programming.
By combining clinical excellence with innovative, culturally competent experiences, we continue our commitment to providing first responder families with independent, confidential, and zero-barrier tools to build lifelong resilience. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the teams at StandFast Alliance and Rising Starr Farms for opening their doors, understanding our firehouse culture, and walking shoulder-to-shoulder with us in service to our community
Powering Resilience: Our Mission-Driven Partnership with Falcon
When we brought Falcon to our FDNY community, the reaction was immediate—we completely ran out of nearly 300 samples as firefighters tried, loved, and gave their resounding seal of approval to the product. This overwhelming response marks a textbook example of a first responder-allied corporate partnership that pairs exceptional product quality with direct, meaningful impact for New York City’s Bravest.
How This Partnership Gives Back
Direct Mission Funding: Falcon is donating $2 from every bottle sold directly back to Friends of Firefighters.
Sustaining Free-First Care: Proceeds directly underwrite our core commitment to keep mental health counseling, the Aaron Clark Peer Support Team, and wellness programs 100% free, confidential, and independent for active FDNY members and their families.
A Model for Corporate Alignment: This collaboration highlights how mission-aligned corporate partners can seamlessly integrate into our first responder network, converting everyday purchases into sustainable operational funding.
We extend our sincere thanks to the team at Falcon for stepping up to support our firehouse family and investing directly in the long-term health, wellness, and resilience of those who serve our city.
2024
