• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • Improve your pistol-handling skills
      What you need to know about automatic license plate readers
      Do cops need more training?
      Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner
      Seeking the right kind of help
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • SoCal police cars are going green
        Connecticut State Police troopers praised for daring bridge rescue
        Security guard and former police chief killed in New Hampshire...
        San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying...
        Toddler fires mom’s gun inside Ohio Walmart store
    • Labor
      • Chicago police unit handling use-of-force reviews faces staffing...
        LAPD union files lawsuit against city over delayed pay raises
        “You can’t play politics with public safety”
        “It’s going to be extremely painful for New Yorkers”
        California Highway Patrol officers set to receive significant salary...
    • Tech
      • Police caution iPhone users over NameDrop feature security concerns
        NYPD explores cutting-edge drone detection vehicle to enhance city...
        The use of military assets by U.S. police
        What you need to know about automatic license plate readers
        Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner
    • Training
      • Ballistic shields in patrol operations
        Four things you need to know to control escalation
        Series of fires in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s mobile shooting...
        Using learning factors to influence your performance
        Lancaster Police Department introduces agility course in recruitment...
    • Policy
      • Lawsuit claims excessive overtime led to tragic shooting of L.A...
        Colorado law enforcement abandons controversial “excited...
        High-speed chase in Houston claims bystander’s life
        L.A. City Council seeks to require police permits for short-term...
        “Hate has no place in Massachusetts”
    • Health/Wellness
      • Harnessing our strength: Post-traumatic growth
        Scientifically proven ways for cops to thrive
        The depression–anger cycle
        What does it mean to be a sheepdog?
        Depression screening
    • Community
      • “They see me as a person”: Albuquerque school resource officer...
        Off-duty first responders save friend’s life after he experiences...
        New Jersey departments unite for No Shave November
        The nobility of serving
        “The smile is a universal language”
    • Offbeat
      • Colorful underwear exposes New York robbery suspect more than a year...
        Meet Sergeant Hank, the Canadian goose boosting morale at an L.A...
        12-year-old boy arrested after stolen forklift chase in Ann Arbor
        Bizarre police chase ends with suspect trapped in porta potty
        Jewelry store heist ends in high-speed chase and mystifying response...
    • We Remember
      • Charlotte bridge dedicated to first female casualty in...
        Birmingham community mourns passing of its first Black police...
        “For those who suffered in silence and were lost”
        “You’re my hero”
        Manhattan Beach police officer and Las Vegas shooting survivor...
  • On the Job
    • SoCal police cars are going green
      Connecticut State Police troopers praised for daring bridge rescue
      Security guard and former police chief killed in New Hampshire...
      San Diego County Sheriff’s Department unveils new night-flying...
      Toddler fires mom’s gun inside Ohio Walmart store
  • Labor
    • Chicago police unit handling use-of-force reviews faces staffing...
      LAPD union files lawsuit against city over delayed pay raises
      “You can’t play politics with public safety”
      “It’s going to be extremely painful for New Yorkers”
      California Highway Patrol officers set to receive significant salary...
  • Tech
    • Police caution iPhone users over NameDrop feature security concerns
      NYPD explores cutting-edge drone detection vehicle to enhance city...
      The use of military assets by U.S. police
      What you need to know about automatic license plate readers
      Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner
  • Training
    • Ballistic shields in patrol operations
      Four things you need to know to control escalation
      Series of fires in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s mobile shooting...
      Using learning factors to influence your performance
      Lancaster Police Department introduces agility course in recruitment...
  • Policy
    • Lawsuit claims excessive overtime led to tragic shooting of L.A...
      Colorado law enforcement abandons controversial “excited...
      High-speed chase in Houston claims bystander’s life
      L.A. City Council seeks to require police permits for short-term...
      “Hate has no place in Massachusetts”
  • Health/Wellness
    • Harnessing our strength: Post-traumatic growth
      Scientifically proven ways for cops to thrive
      The depression–anger cycle
      What does it mean to be a sheepdog?
      Depression screening
  • Community
    • “They see me as a person”: Albuquerque school resource officer...
      Off-duty first responders save friend’s life after he experiences...
      New Jersey departments unite for No Shave November
      The nobility of serving
      “The smile is a universal language”
  • Offbeat
    • Colorful underwear exposes New York robbery suspect more than a year...
      Meet Sergeant Hank, the Canadian goose boosting morale at an L.A...
      12-year-old boy arrested after stolen forklift chase in Ann Arbor
      Bizarre police chase ends with suspect trapped in porta potty
      Jewelry store heist ends in high-speed chase and mystifying response...
  • We Remember
    • Charlotte bridge dedicated to first female casualty in...
      Birmingham community mourns passing of its first Black police...
      “For those who suffered in silence and were lost”
      “You’re my hero”
      Manhattan Beach police officer and Las Vegas shooting survivor...
  • Between the Lines
    • Debunking the perpetual narrative of racial bias in policing
      The unspoken truth behind the recruitment and retention crisis
      The police reform goal: use of force without options
      The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

We Remember

“We can never forget what happened”

September 11 philanthropies remember the fallen by supporting impacted families

APB Team Published September 11, 2022 @ 12:00 pm PDT

Dreamstime.com/Songquan Deng

Philanthropies founded in the aftermath of the September 11 terror attacks continue to remember the fallen heroes by maintaining their legacy and supporting their families 21 years after the tragedy.

Organizations like Answer the Call, for example, have provided millions of dollars for families who lost loved ones in the attacks.

Formally known as the N.Y. Police and Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund, Answer the Call has donated $100,000 to each family of the roughly 400 first responders who lost their lives in the attacks, and has contributed over $165 million in total.

The organization was founded by former New York Mets baseball star Daniel “Rusty” Staub to support the families of first responders from the NYPD, FDNY and PAPD (Port Authority Police Department) and EMS workers who died in the line of duty.

After 9/11, the number of families who needed help doubled.

“On September 11, 2001, the number of families we served tragically doubled. We lost over 300 NYC first responders that devastating day … However, because of the incredible generosity of our supporters, the outpouring of support we received from people and companies across the country and the fiscal responsibility of our leadership, we were able to continue to provide assistance to these families, as well as all the other families who had lost a loved one in the line of duty,” the foundation stated on its website.

Another organization, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, has raised a total of $250 million for the fallen heroes since the attacks, which claimed 2,977 lives in total.

Of these, 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD officers and 37 Port Authority police officers lost their lives.

Answer the Call and Tunnels to Towers have gone beyond providing just financial support to families by actively checking on their wellfare.

For instance, Answer the Call helped Marcela Leahy’s three sons grapple with the tragedy after their father, NYPD Officer James Leahy, was killed in the attacks.

The baseball games hosted by the organization have given a lot of emotional support to the boys, who often played baseball with their father.

“The boys loved baseball,” Leahy told Fox News Digital. “James was actively involved with the sports, involved with baseball, took them to baseball games … I knew we were going to have a baseball game where the kids didn’t feel different because everyone there, that they were going to be with, was in the same position – they lost a father.”

Now, the boys are grown up and married.

“Even when the kids got married, it’s just, it’s so bittersweet. It’s happy, but it’s the saddest,” she said. “He’s not here, but he’s here because they’re so much like him.”

Leahy added that Answer the Call is always there for her and her family.

“I knew I could always call for anything,” she said. “I would call … for stupid things, just to ask a question, and they always had an answer. So, I know that somebody always had my back.” 

“It’s a beautiful feeling. They were really Godsends, God sent angels to us,” she said.

NHL hall-of-famer and New York Rangers’ legend Mark Messier decided to join an Answer the Call to throw his support behind the foundation and help those impacted. He is currently on the foundation’s board of directors.

“First responders are always going to be in danger, unfortunately, with the inherent risks that the jobs come with — putting their lives in front of others to help and support and save people,” he said.

Messier helped the city overcome the tragedy in his own way. In the Rangers’ home opener on October 7, 2001, Messier wore the helmet of fallen FDNY Chief of Special Operations Command Ray Downey.

“It was in support of every New Yorker who reached out and tried to help. It symbolized every FDNY and NYPD who risked their lives trying to save people,” he said. 

“We can never forget what happened. We can never forget the lives that were lost, senseless likes that were lost,” Messier added.

Categories: We Remember Tags: fallen heroes, first responders, 9/11, September 11, line of duty, terror attack, philanthropy, twin towers, Answer the Call, Mark Messier

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • SoCal police cars are going green
  • Police caution iPhone users over NameDrop feature security concerns
  • Lawsuit claims excessive overtime led to tragic shooting of L.A. County Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer
  • Connecticut State Police troopers praised for daring bridge rescue
  • Colorful underwear exposes New York robbery suspect more than a year later
  • Colorado law enforcement abandons controversial “excited delirium” term
  • “They see me as a person”: Albuquerque school resource officer and cheer coach bridges gap, inspires students
  • High-speed chase in Houston claims bystander’s life
  • Meet Sergeant Hank, the Canadian goose boosting morale at an L.A. Sheriff’s station
  • Chicago police unit handling use-of-force reviews faces staffing crisis and backlog

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

Improve your pistol-handling skills

Improve your pistol-handling skills

October 21, 2023

What you need to know about automatic license plate readers

What you need to know about automatic license plate readers

October 20, 2023

Do cops need <em>more</em> training?

Do cops need more training?

October 17, 2023

Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner

Why every agency needs a polygraph examiner

October 16, 2023

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.