ABOUT ANSWER THE CALL: Answer the Call provides
immediate and ongoing financial assistance to the families of FDNY, NYPD, PAPD,
and EMS heroes killed in the line of duty. Since our organization was founded
in 1985, we have distributed approximately $165 million dollars to the families
of our fallen first responders. In 2023 alone, our organization distributed
over $5.3 million directly to about 530 beneficiary families.
On September 11, 2001, the number of families we served
tragically doubled. We lost over three
hundred NYC First Responders that devastating day. Initially, we were unsure how we would be
able to afford to provide financial support to so many grieving families in the
days and decades to come. 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 aid these
families as well as all the other families who had lost a loved one in the line
of duty. In addition, we amended our
policy to also include EMS personnel and Port Authority officers who lost their
lives in the line of duty.
Today, NYC first responders remain unwavering in their
commitment to keep New York safe. Each
day, our first responders continue to go out into the community and selflessly
risk their lives to help keep others safe.
Sadly, this means we continue to have some heroes make the ultimate
sacrifice in the line of duty and thus the number of families we serve
continues to grow. We also provide a network of support and special events to
help our families and to let them know they are not alone. You can read more about
the organization here.
