The Joey D Foundation provides fire departments in need with training and personal safety systems.
One day every firefighter will have the training and equipment
to safely escape a fire.
The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation (Joey D Foundation) believes that firefighters can’t save lives if they can’t save themselves. Too often firefighters become trapped unexpectedly due to collapse, flashover, backdraft or more and need to get out FAST. Sometimes the only way out is a window. Our organization knows this all too well – founded by people directly impacted by the FDNY “Black Sunday” where 3 firefighters lost their lives and 3 suffered life-changing injuries – all because they had no way out but a 5th story window.
That’s why we are committed to providing personal safety systems and training to fire departments in need. We achieve this by awarding grants for personal safety bailout systems for firefighters, and offering seminars taught by world class instructors. We hope there’s a day where every firefighter has a way out. And no family, department or community suffers the devastating impact of another “Black Sunday.”
You can help make this happen – Donate Today!
What’s New
Train With Us at the 2021 Joey D Seminar – November 5 – 7, 2021
The Foundation is planning the 2021 Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Seminar to be held on November 5 – 7, 2021. Please know that the health and well-being of our students, world-class instructors, and volunteers are paramount to us and that we are closely monitoring the Covid-19 pandemic. We appreciate your enthusiasm and patience as we navigate this together.
- Watch Chief Joe DiBernardo on the Gettin Salty Experience Podcast - Special guest will be retired 35 year FDNY veteran Deputy Chief Division 6 Commander Joe DiBernardo. After coming back from the Vietnam War in 1966 he was called and appointed to the FDNY in June 1966 and Assigned to Engine 39. In 1968 he worked in Engine 36 after a department-wide lift order. In 1973 he was assigned to 16 Truck. Promoted to Lt. In 1975 and assigned UFO To Engine 82 in the Bronx. Was then assigned to Engine 38 in 1978. Promoted to Captain in 1979 and assigned to Engine 33. Promoted to BC in 1981 and was assigned to the 28 Battalion in 1982. Promoted to DC in 1984 and assigned to Division 6. Called to duty in Desert Storm in 1990 and after returning went back to Division 6. His son "Joey D" was one of our brothers who jumped for his life on Black Sunday. November 22, 2011, Joe passed away as a result of injuries suffered on Black Sunday. To continue his legacy, the Lieutenant Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation was created for the charitable purpose of providing financial assistance to fire departments across America and Canada that need Personal Safety Systems. You don’t want to miss this one.
- Chinese Auction Benefits the Joey D Foundation - Support the the Middle Island Volunteer Fire Department and the Joey D Foundation at 5:00 pm on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at the MIVFD Chinese Auction. Learn more at: www.middleislandfd.org
- You’ve Watched The Bronx is Burning, Now Hear it From Captain Bob Farrell in The War Years - The newly released book by Captain Bob Farrell (Ladder 31), The War Years, recalls those years at La Casa Grande. Get this new book in paperback or kindle addition through our Amazon Smile program by designating the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation as your charity of choice. Captain Farrell is kindly donating the proceeds from the sale of his book to the FDNY Honor Legion and the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation. Bob has been an ally of the Foundation since its inception and we are grateful for his generosity and friendship!
- Order Into the Smoke with New York’s Bravest and Support the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation - Into the Smoke is a work of photojournalism and traces Tom Barry’s career as a firefighter—spanning parts of four decades in FDNY—along with the forty-year effort of noted freelance photographer Michael Dick.
- Jeffery “Moose” Cool, Jr. Takes the Goggins Challenge, Raising Nearly $18,000 for the Joey D Foundation - Earlier this year, retired Navy SEAL and endurance athlete David Goggins, put out his 4x4x48 challenge which includes running 4 miles, every 4 hours, for 48 hours. When Jeffery Cool, a first responder in paramedic school, saw the call-to-action he knew that he “was hooked.” Not only did he accept this test of endurance, but he vowed to support the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation (Joey D Foundation), a charity that is close to his heart.
