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
- Lonestar Training Seminar Added to Joey D Foundation Training Line-Up - For those farther west who haven't made it out to Long Island yet, here's another opportunity for great firefighter training a little closer to you in the Lonestar State on on April 8-10, 2022. A perfect warm up for the seminar in November!
- 8th Annual Joey D Memorial Training Seminar Held - The Foundation held their 8th Annual Training Seminar this November 5-7. Over 300 students and instructors from all over the country and Canada were in attendance.
- The Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation Announces Its 2021 Grants for Fire Departments - Now in it its eighth year, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation grant program has awarded over $694,353 to departments in need. Established in Joey’s memory in 2013, the Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation holds training events that promote firefighter to raise funds to support its grant program. It also relies on the generous support of our sponsors and partners to help train and equip firefighters.
- Birds Eye View Project’s Red Coat Challenge Benefits the Joey D Foundation - The Red Coat Challenge was a 5 mile, 20 station Special Forces experience including: hostage rescue, archery, hand-to-hand, and a whole lot of firearms! Each station honored a fallen hero and the event concluded with a Hero Walk to remind participants what they did this for.
- 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.
