Dear Friends,

How did Lady Liberty ever know that the words written below her feet, “Give me your tired…” would someday describe New York City firefighters, “America’s Bravest?” Not even Hollywood could have captured the horrific images of the World Trade Center collapse upon thousands of innocent victims. Among them were 343 dedicated New York City firefighters, whose wives and children are now left with those haunting images and the realization that life, as they knew it, has also collapsed. We want to give them comfort, something that money cannot buy, and take them away for a brief moment from the daily reminders of the tragedy in New York City. We proudly announce our project:

“Los Angeles County Firefighters Honor FDNY”

Since September 11, 2001, over 800 Los Angeles County firefighters have made the emotional trip to Ground Zero. Many came back in tears, perhaps for the first time in their career. Their thoughts turned to the agonizing fact that many deceased firefighters have still not been recovered from the debris almost five months later. Surviving firefighters are still working on the recovery effort at Ground Zero. They are beyond tired, physically and emotionally.

These families need a break…a change of scenery.

But, like firefighters who never give up, several LACoFD personnel who went to New York came back determined to do something special for the surviving family members of the 343 men who perished in the attacks and surviving FDNY firefighters. We are proposing to provide a seven-day, all expenses paid Southern California vacation to the surviving family members of all of the fallen FDNY firefighters, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers, New York Police Department, and New York City Port Authority Police…approximately 400 families.

Let’s invite them to California, where our sunshine will bring rays of hope.

We want to give them one week away from the mournful images of Ground Zero in New York and bring them to Southern California, where the year-round sunshine and hospitality our state is so famous for will spark hope and help them to heal and move on with their lives. We hope to kick this off during Summer 2002, and continue this vacation offer until September 11, 2002.

Over the past several months, we have organized our efforts to provide a unique donor opportunity through the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Memorial Committee, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service.

We are grateful to those sponsors already on board: Marriott International, Pepsi, Supercuts, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Knott’s Berry Farm, The Queen Mary, Magic Mountain, and many others.

What are we asking for?

Cash Donations

Hotel Lodging

Roundtrip Airfare For An Average Family of Four

Donations of Frequent Flyer Miles

Ground Transportation of All Types

Restaurant Gift Certificates

Entertainment Tickets For Sporting Events, Concerts, Museums,

Amusement and Theme Parks, Special Events

Volunteers to Assist in Weekly Receptions and Other Functions

What will you receive for your contribution?

As part of our project, we will host weekly receptions at Los Angeles area sponsoring restaurants, where you will be given a unique opportunity to meet surviving family members of FDNY firefighters. So many donors never meet the people who benefit from their donations. In addition, all donors will be recognized in our project advertising and publicity.

Who is organizing this project?

Thirty-nine firefighters and civilian employees of the Los Angeles County Fire Department have volunteered to team up and organize this project, under the direction of Fire Captain Gary Walsh and Fire Captain Ted Garcia, two of the first group of LACoFD firefighters to personally witness the devastation at Ground Zero. Their strong reactions to this tragedy is powering their determination to give FDNY families a respite. “Los Angeles County Firefighters Honor FDNY” is an independent project endorsed by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1014 in Los Angeles, who have already raised millions of dollars from firefighters across the nation.

How can you help?

Please help us by donating any dollar amount or in-kind donation, as listed above, to this unique project. Please make your tax-deductible donation payable to “Los Angeles County Firefighters Honor FDNY,” and mail to:

L.A. County Firefighters Honor FDNY

1508 Alexander Court

Brea, California 92821

As firefighters, we are usually the ones asked for help. Now it’s our turn to “dial 911” and humbly ask you to help the surviving FDNY family members left behind since 9-11-01. Help us comfort them and let them know that life does go on…

On behalf of our entire committee, we thank you in advance for your support.

Please contact us toll-free at (866) 30LA911 [866-305-2911].

We are grateful.

This is a special project of the

Los Angeles County Firefighters Memorial Committee (Tax ID#95-4175714)  

1508 Alexander Court

Brea, California 92821  

(866)30-LA911 [866-305-2911]  

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