In late 2019, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation awarded the Port Jervis Fire Department (NY) a grant for personal safety systems (PSS) and related training. This grant, in the amount of $12,000, was provided by the Foundation in partnership with the Leary Firefighters Foundation. Grant funding will provide 21 department members with PSS and training they need to escape if there are no other ways out.
“Providing for the safety of our firefighters is paramount, as well as providing them the proper tools. The generosity of the Lieutenant Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and the Leary Firefighters Foundation gets us closer to achieving these goals,” notes Chief Dominic M. Cicalese of the Port Jervis Fire Department.
Over the last six years, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation grant program has awarded over $472,000 to departments in need. Established in Joey’s memory in 2013, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation holds firefighter training events that support its grant program. It also relies on the generous support of our sponsors and partners to help train and equip firefighters.
In 2005, Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, known to his friends and colleagues as “Joey D,” was critically injured in a Bronx apartment fire where two firefighters perished and three others were also badly injured. A personal safety rope system, carried by fellow Rescue 3 Firefighter Jeff Cool, helped both Joey and Jeff to escape the flames by lowering themselves as far as they could from the four-story jump. After the incident, Joey traveled around the country training firefighters and sharing his story to help other firefighters. His foundation will continue this work, helping firefighters in the United States and Canada.
In August 2012, New York Governor Cuomo, signed into law a measure to require that New York firefighters be equipped with personal safety rope systems or emergency escape systems in the event they become trapped in an elevated structure fire.
"Thanks to everyone who has supported the Foundation and its mission to keep firefighters safe. Together we carry on Joey's legacy and work to prevent other tragedies from occurring. We’re grateful to all of our grant partners, sponsors, and donors for their generosity," says Chief Joe DiBernardo, Foundation President and Joey's father.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation will continue to train firefighters and provide grants to departments to ensure the safety of firefighters across the United States and Canada. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that nine fire departments across the U.S. have been awarded over $97,000. Through 2019 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation grant program, these departments will benefit from 224 new Personal Safety Systems (PSS) and related training to keep them safe.
Our 2019 grantees include:
- City of Erie Fire Department (PA)
- Eynon/Sturges Volunteer Hose Company #3 (PA)
- Leominster Fire Department (MA)
- Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS (CT)
- Norwich Fire Department (CT)
- Pleasantdale Fire Department (NY)
- Port Jervis Fire Department (NY)
- Ventnor City Fire Department (NJ)
- Wales Fire Department (MA)
Now in it its sixth year, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation grant program has awarded over $472,000 to departments in need. Established in Joey’s memory in 2013, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation holds training events that promote firefighter to raise funds to support its grant program. It also relies on the generous support of our sponsors and partners to help train and equip firefighters.
In 2005, Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, known to his friends and colleagues as “Joey D,” was critically injured in a Bronx apartment fire where two firefighters died, and three others were also badly injured. A personal safety rope system, carried by fellow Rescue 3 Firefighter Jeff Cool, helped both Joey and Jeff to escape the flames by lowering themselves as far as they could from the four-story jump. After the incident, Joey traveled around the country training firefighters and sharing his story to help other firefighters. His foundation will continue this work, helping firefighters in the United States and Canada.
"Our Foundation’s grant program works to prevent another ‘Black Sunday’ from occurring. With support from our grant partners, sponsors, and donors we not only keep more firefighters safe, but we honor Joey’s legacy. My family and I would like to thank everyone who has supported the Foundation and our work over the years,” says Chief Joe DiBernardo, Foundation President and Joey's father.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation will continue to train firefighters and provide grants to departments to ensure the safety of firefighters across the United States and Canada. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org.
On behalf of the Kansas City Kansas Community College – Fire Science Program, we want to extend a sincere thank you to the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Foundation for the grant awarded to us for life saving harnesses and escape systems. This equipment is very valuable to our rescue training we provide students as well as to the confidence students will gain from experience using escape systems.- Director Todd Miles and Fellow Instructors, Fire Science Program, Kansas City Kansas Community College
Without this grant, our department would not have been able to provide our students with this equipment and training. We are a small community college program, but are steadily growing. Grants like this will show the college community and surrounding departments that hire our students that this Fire Science Program wants to keep our firefighters as safe as possible while providing them a means to remain safe and go home at night.
Once again, we say “Thank you” to this great foundation and all of their hard work they have accomplished by offering these types of grants to the fire service around the country.
"The graciousness of your investment will allow our department to outfit all of our members with this system. This is a huge step forward in the name of safety and we cannot express our thanks enough."
"Without this grant we certainly would not have been able to outfit our entire department along with being able to provide the training that comes with it. Because of this grant we knowingly are able to better protect our city’s firefighters and are better equipped to provide the very best life safety and fire protection to our residents and many summertime visitors."
"Your Foundation has been able to help our department become better prepared for when the inevitable time occurs that a bailout becomes necessary by providing $6,808 to purchase equipment and training. The invaluable service you provide is one that will not be taken lightly nor be forgotten. "
"Without the Foundation’s generous donation our small department would not have been able to afford this state-of-the-art bail-out equipment. The fires and related hazards our crews face are no less dangerous than any organization across the country faces of which have much greater funds to purchase equipment. Mr. DiBernardo and the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation saw our need and did not hesitate to meet it!"
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the Wildwood Fire Department, in New Jersey, has received a grant for personal life safety rope systems and related training for its firefighters.
This grant totaling $13,675 was made possible through a partnership between the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, The Leary Firefighters Foundation, and Fire Hooks Unlimited.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $367,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
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The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the New London Fire Department, in Connecticut, has received a grant for personal life safety rope systems and related training for 60 of its firefighters.
This grant totaling $24,900 was made possible through a partnership between the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, The Leary Firefighters Foundation, and Fire Hooks Unlimited.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $367,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the Leominster Fire-Rescue Department, in Massachusetts, has received a grant for personal life safety rope systems and related training for 34 its firefighters.
This grant totaling $12,000 was made possible through a partnership between the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and The Leary Firefighters Foundation.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $367,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Bellerose Fire Department, which is located in western Nassau County, has received a grant totaling almost $4,000. This grant provided personal life safety rope systems for six firefighters.
"A huge 'Thank You' for the bailout system grant money we received. The Campville Fire Department and Town of Owego Fire District are very grateful to your organization for helping us get a bailout system for each of our new MSA G1 air packs. I hope that we never have to use them, but the confidence we have in knowing that self rescue is possible in the case of an emergency is empowering. We will continue to train with the Rescue Belt 2 from MSA so each of our interior firefighters will be as prepared as possible in the event of the need for self rescue." - Chief Diana Ford, Campville Fire Department
The members of the Lynnfield Fire Department Training Division participated in a "Train the Trainer" event. They trained in proper "bail out" techniques to escape from life-threatening fire situations. Recently, the Lynnfield Fire Department was awarded a $22,515 grant from the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation to purchase bail out kits and training for all of its members. The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation was established to help fire departments prevent another tragedy like "FDNY Black Sunday" in 2005. The members of Lynnfield Fire Department are grateful to the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation for its generous grant award.
“We were very fortunate enough to receive the grant that outfitted our whole department,” Firefighter Eric Moran said. “Every fire department should be outfitted with these,” Moran said. “It’s necessary safety equipment.”
Christmas came early for the Campville Fire Department of Endicott, New York. The department received a grant from the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation to replace 30 of its aging personal life safety rope systems. The grant totaling over $30,500 was made possible through a partnership between the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and The Leary Firefighters Foundation.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, established in Joey’s memory in 2013, “carries on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and our grant program helps provide a way to give firefighters this vital equipment ,” says Chief Joe DiBernardo. "Through our partnership with The Leary Firefighters Foundation, we can help more departments in need in the New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts area. We're honored to partner with The Leary Firefighters Foundation to help our nation's firefighters stay safe."
In August 2012, New York Governor Cuomo, signed into law a measure to require New York firefighters to be equipped with personal safety rope systems or emergency escape systems in the event they become trapped in an elevated structure fire. The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation helps departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe.
To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
Lynnfield Fire Department of Lynnfield, Massachusetts is a growing combination department just outside of Boston. The department received a grant through a partnership with the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and and The Leary Firefighters Foundation. This grant will provide 44 personal life safety rope systems and training for its firefighters.
"Given our tremendous growth, including a mall and many high fire load apartment complexes, combined with the lack of budgetary growth, we feel that this grant will be crucial in assisting a highly motivated group of firefighters stay safe, " they mention in their application.
This grant totaling over $22,500 was made possible through a partnership between the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and The Leary Firefighters Foundation.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, established in Joey’s memory in 2013, “carries on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy ,” says Chief Joe DiBernardo. "Through our partnership with The Leary Firefighters Foundation, we can help more departments in need in the New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts area. We're honored to partner with The Leary Firefighters Foundation to help our nation's firefighters stay safe."
Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the Pleasantville Fire Department of Pleasantville, New Jersey has received a grant totaling over $25,000. This grant will provide 43 personal life safety rope systems and training for its firefighters.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the Moosup Valley Fire Department of Foster, Rhode Island has received a grant totaling over $9,200. This grant will provide 17 personal life safety rope systems and training for its structural firefighters.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the Castle Valley Fire District, which is in southeast Utah, has received a grant totaling over $2,300. This grant will provide personal life safety rope systems and related training for four of its firefighters.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation is proud to announce that the Wright City Fire Protection District of Wright City, Missouri has received a grant totaling over $7,700. This grant will provide 27 personal life safety rope systems for its firefighters.
"Since its inception in 2013, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 to help departments across the United States and Canada keep their members safe," says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “Our programs carry on Joey’s legacy of training firefighters and helps prevent another tragedy.”
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's mission is to help North American fire departments in need purchase this much needed safety equipment and keep them safe. To learn more about the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation’s grant program for personal life safety rope systems or to apply visit: www.joeydfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/grants/.
