Saturday, November 2 - Sunday, November 3, 2019  Hone your firefighting skills at the 2019 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Training Seminar. Our firefighter training seminars are taught by world-class fire service leaders. This great weekend of fire department training benefits the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation's grant program...

Join us for a night of food, music, and family fun for a great cause! The Second Annual Fire Department Volleyball Fundraiser sponsored by the Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook and Gold Coast Bank and will be held at the Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook. Cost is $20 per person and includes food and beverages. Music features Special guest DJ Kevin along with LIVE Musical Performances by Face to Face, a tribute to the music of Billy Joel & Elton John. Also, new in 2019, the corn hole tournament.


Your donation benefits the programs of the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation which provides training and Personal Safety Systems to fire departments in need.

For more information, contact Tanya Lee at (631) 471-8000 ext. 709
or E-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

In order to keep their skills sharp, firefighters practice with their PSS to get a better feel for their environment when using it in a real situation.

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.

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."

The Otter Creek Fire Department is now better equipped to safely escape any multi-story burning buildings, thanks to an eight thousand dollar bailout bag grant from the Joey DiBernardo Foundation.

Many charities positively and profoundly impact the lives of veterans and first responders, but they need a bigger platform and more funding to share their story and highlight the needs of those they serve. The Bird’s Eye View Project showcases a series of BIG events that will raise BIG awareness and funding for charities. Their mission is to bridge the growing divide between those who serve and those who benefit from their service, by encouraging all Americans to “support those who support us.”

The Lt. Joseph P. DiBerarndo Memorial Foundation thanks Navy SEAL Ryan “Birdman” Parrott and the Bird’s Eye View Project team for their generous support of our mission to keep firefighters safe. "Their support helps us provide Personal Safety Systems (PSS) to fire departments in need, so that one day every firefighter will have the equipment they need to safely escape a fire," say Chief Joe DiBernardo, Foundation President. "We honored by the brotherhood shown by Ryan 'Birdman' Parrott and are very grateful for the Bird’s Eye View Project for their support of the nation's firefighters."

Bird’s Eye View Project, in addition to supporting the Lt. Joseph P. DiBerarndo Memorial Foundation, supports the following charities through their fund raising events:

• Sons of the Flag provides support to Veterans and First Responders, and their families, who have survived a burn injury.
• Carry the Load is dedicated to providing active, meaningful ways to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our nation’s heroes — military, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, rescue personnel and their families.
• 22KILL provides traditional and non-traditional therapies for service members and their families. Our focus is on empowerment and helping individuals find a sense of purpose after service. This includes all services: Military, Police, Fire, and EMS.
• Boot Campaign is comprehensive health and wellness program that targets the big five invisible wounds: PTSD, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain, self-medication and insomnia.
• Rosecrance Florian Program is the first program in the country dedicated to and specializing in serving firefighters, paramedics and other fire service members who need substance abuse treatment but who also need care for job-related post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and other behavioral health issues.
• America's Mighty Warriors honors our troops, the fallen and their families with programs that improve quality of life, resiliency and recovery. Funds donated allow us to offer programs that help those who served and families of the fallen through HBOT, Gold Star Respite and more.
• Task Force Dagger supports the men and women and the families of the US Army Special Operations Command in need of physical, mental and family support as a result of their combat deployments in service of our country.

Please help support the Bird’s Eye View Project and the Joey D Foundation.

"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!"

Each year, Fire Science students at Lambton College in Ontario, Canada, participate in a group project where they research and present on significant fires. FDNY Black Sunday is just one of the topics students can choose and each class has responded to the project differently. In a previous year, students built this scale replica of the apartment from that fateful day. This year, one group project included the following summary of the event relating specifically to Joey:

Joey DiBernardo was riding with Rescue 3 on Black Sunday. Rescue 3 was dispatched to a structure fire in a 4 story apartment building in the Bronx.

DiBernardo was performing a search with one other firefighter from Rescue 3 and four firefighters from Ladder 27 on the 4th floor, above the fire. Lack of water allowed the conditions within the building to escalate until the firefighters were forced to exit through the 4th story windows. There was no time to have ladders raised to the windows and 4 of the firefighters jumped from the the 4th story into a small, below-grade alleyway behind the building.

DiBernardo and Jeff Cool, from Rescue 3, remained in the building. Cool threw one end of an escape rope to DiBernardo with the intent to lower him to the ground from the adjacent window. DiBernardo refused to be lowered down first because he knew Cool had a wife and kids, while Joey was single. DiBernardo wrapped the rope around his arm and waist in an attempt to self-belay Cool to safety, but when Cool leapt out of the window, he lost his grasp on the rope landing in the alley below and suffering severe injuries.

DiBernardo then tied the escape rope to a child safety guard and attempted to lower himself to the ground. According the DiBernardo’s account, the rope broke causing him to also fall to the alleyway below, breaking almost all of the bones from his waist down. DiBernardo’s recovery was a long process. He fought for his life in the hospital, battling his injuries as well as respiratory arrest and pneumonia. After leaving the hospital, he spent an extended amount of time in a rehabilitation center learning to walk again. Joey DiBernardo lived the rest of his life in pain and on many medications, eventually passing away on November 22, 2011 as a result of injuries sustained on Black Sunday.

The selfless way that Joey DiBernardo lived and eventually died serves as a testament to the kind of person, firefighter and friend that he was. He was a shining example of what it is to live a life of service to others. In that same way, his family continues to give back to the fire service through the work they do as part of the Joey D Foundation.

"These students are 18-20 years of age," says Professor Scott Brown, "They can’t answer the question, 'Where were you on 9/11?' 9/11 is a history lesson for them." He uses to stories like 9/11 and those of Joey DiBernardo, Jeff Cool, Kevin Shea, and Paddy Brown to teach the next generation of the fire service.

Lambton students also have a chance to visit New York with stops at "The Rock" at Randall’s Island and 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The highlight of the 2018 trip, was meeting up with Retired Rescue 3 Firefighter Tim Brown at the 9/11 Memorial reflecting pools. In March 2018, the students marched up 5th Avenue in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and plan to visit again in March 2019.

The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and the DiBernardo family thanks Professor Brown and the Fire Science Students at Lambton College for taking the time to study and learn from the Black Sunday Fire and other fires. "Your hard work not only helps prevent similar tragedies from occurring, but it honors those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Thank you for remembering our son in this meaningful way," says Joey's father, Chief Joe DiBernardo.

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/.

Related:

• Testimonial from Chief Daniel F Speigel, Wildwood Fire Department

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/.

New York Giants vs Tennessee Titans at Met Life Stadium

Sunday, December 16 at 1 pm

Package includes:

• Four $520 Club Section seats, Value of $2,080
• Free Parking for one car
• Pre-Game On Field Access Passes (unable to purchase)

Congratulations to FDNY Battalion Chief Frank Donnelly (Ret.) who won the New Giants Ticket Package

This one-of-a-kind 2018 Joey D Seminar humidor made especially for the Foundation, was hand crafted by Chief Mike Nugent at Black Pearl Woodworks. The box features the Joey’s photo, with Maltese Cross inlays, and the inscription honoring “Stay Safe Brothers.”

Retail value of the box is $300. All donations benefit the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation, which provides grants to fire departments in need.

Congratulations to Jim Wicks of the Ocean Beach Fire Department for winning the 2018 Humidor Raffle

This one-of-a-kind 2018 Joey D Seminar humidor made especially for the Foundation, was hand crafted by Chief Mike Nugent at Black Pearl Woodworks. The box features the Joey's photo, with Maltese Cross inlays, and the inscription honoring "Stay Safe Brothers." Retail value of the box is $300. All donations benefit the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memori...

PIX11 visits the Setauket Fire Department as they look back at one of the deadliest fires for firefighters and the changes that have been made through an organization, which supports crews with lifesaving equipment.

FDNY Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, also known as “Joey D,” knew that being a great firefighter took passion, initiative, and constant personal growth. He was not only a renowned fire service instructor, but he was also a life-long student. His legacy for training firefighters lives on through the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and Annual Seminar.

Motivated firefighters from across the country will gather again in Long Island, New York, on November 3-4, 2018, to hone their craft and honor a fallen brother. The Annual Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar not only provides training to firefighters, it helps to sustain the Foundation's grant program which provides life-saving personal safety systems (PSS) to fire departments in need throughout North America.

Throughout the weekend, you will gain valuable insights during classroom training with world-class fire service instructors such as FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka (Retired), Chief Dennis L. Rubin, Fire Chief Robert Fling, and FDNY Lieutenant Ray McCormack. With more than a dozen hands-on training opportunities, including Flashover/Firefighter Survival, Advanced Vehicle Extrication, and Chief Officer Workshop, the weekend offers something for every firefighter or fire officer.

Additionally, U.S. Navy SEAL Ryan “Birdman” Parrott, an author, speaker, and founder of two non-profits that benefit veterans and first responders will begin Day Two with an informative and engaging seminar. “Since 2013, with the generous support from our sponsors, partners, and the fire service, the Foundation has awarded over $242,000 in grants to help departments keep their members safe,” says Chief Joe DiBernardo. “When you attend the seminar, you are ensuring that one day, every firefighter has the training and equipment they need to safely escape a fire. We look forward to the day that no family, department, or community suffers the devastating impact of another 'Black Sunday.' ”

On that tragic day in FDNY history, a Bronx fire claimed the lives of two firefighters and forever changed the lives of the surviving firefighters and their families. Firefighter Jeff Cool’s personal life safety rope helped him and Joey to escape, as they were forced to jump from a 4-story apartment building with fire raging behind them.

You can be a part of this great event that helps keep you, your community, and the fire service safe. Reserve your spot for the 2018 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar today, visit www.joeydfoundation.org/seminars/2018-seminar. Learn more about Joey and the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation at www.joeydfoundation.org.

FDNY Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo, also known as "Joey D," knew that being a great firefighter took passion, initiative, and constant personal growth. He was not only a renowned fire service instructor, but he was also a life-long student. His legacy for training firefighters lives on through the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation and Annual ...