When actor Denis Leary wanted to raise money for his firefighter foundation, he decided against traditional golf tournaments and auctions. Instead, the comedian and star of Fox’s “Going Dutch” developed what he describes as an unconventional concept: allowing ordinary people to train like real firefighters.
The celebrity, famous for voicing Diego in the “Ice Age” film series, partnered with New York City’s Fire Department and FDNY Foundation to create the annual Denis Leary FDNY Firefighter Challenge. This unique fundraising event coincides with International Firefighters Day each May 4th.
Beginning in 2016, this special program represents the sole occasion when the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island opens its doors to civilians. Participants receive an extraordinary chance to undergo authentic emergency response training typically reserved for professional firefighters.
“It was exciting from the get-go,” Leary shared with The Associated Press. “Now, 10 years in, it just gets better and better every year. It’s truly amazing.”
During the intensive experience, volunteers work alongside professional firefighters, entering structures engulfed in flames, hauling fire hoses to battle blazes, and conducting rescue operations for trapped victims. The training also includes rappelling down building exteriors to safety.
According to Leary, who maintains strong ties to the firefighting community through his foundation and his role in the FX series “Rescue Me,” nobody is forced to participate in activities beyond their comfort level. However, witnessing the collaboration and skill of firefighters often motivates people to push their boundaries.
The actor recalls with amusement how “The Good Wife” actress Julianna Margulies initially planned to serve as a coach rather than participate directly. “Maybe two hours later, I went over by the high-rise simulator and she was coming out in full bunker gear and she’s like, ‘I just rappelled down the side of the building!’” Leary recounted. “And I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ She’s like, ‘I know! I overcame all my fears.’”
Leary’s celebrity status attracts numerous actors, professional athletes, and corporate sponsors to the annual gathering. The funds generated enable the foundation to distribute additional grants to fire departments nationwide for essential equipment purchases and specialized training programs they couldn’t otherwise obtain, according to David Morkal, a retired FDNY battalion chief serving on the foundation’s board.
“When we started this 10 years ago we were giving out maybe $200,000 in grants a year and now we’re giving out $850,000,” Morkal explained, noting the foundation aims to reach $1 million in grants this year. “There are volunteer fire departments out there that are fighting for every $100 they can get.”
The foundation’s grant criteria remains unchanged since Leary established it in 2000, following a devastating Worcester, Massachusetts fire that claimed six firefighters’ lives, including Leary’s cousin and childhood friend.
“His mission is to provide them with all the equipment and training that (firefighters) need to walk away from a fire after it’s out and go home to their families,” Morkal stated. “That’s the kind of stuff we’re doing. We’re giving them training and equipment.”
At Alabama’s Talladega Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief John Tyson reports that the forcible entry trainer his department received from Leary’s foundation sees daily use. This equipment allows firefighters to rapidly break through locked doors, improving the department’s emergency response capabilities. However, such tools often rank low on budget priorities due to financial constraints, Tyson noted.
“We’re a small department in rural Alabama,” he said, expressing appreciation for the foundation’s support. “It’s touching to me that someone who has achieved the success he has still wants to give back.”
International Association of Fire Fighters General President Edward A. Kelly expressed disappointment that philanthropic assistance remains necessary for fire departments to obtain basic equipment and training. Kelly’s union represents 360,000 firefighters and first responders across the United States and Canada.
“When you think about the core role of government, first and foremost, it is to protect its citizens and that’s what fire departments do every day,” Kelly observed. “We have a problem where fire departments in the United States are on budgets where they’re competing with a multitude of other demands on city government — whether it’s the schools or new bridges or parks or anything that’ll get a politician reelected. That’s a flawed system.”
Kelly described Leary’s foundation as filling “the giant void” created by systematic funding shortfalls. After 26 years of charitable giving, most fire departments nationwide have received equipment donations from the foundation.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to Denis and to all the people that have helped support the Leary Foundation,” he said. “Whatever will fill the gap that will prevent the next tragedy is well worth the investment.”
Following the September 11th terrorist attacks, Leary briefly hoped federal intervention might eliminate the need for his foundation. “There was a brief moment about six months later when we thought, ‘Is the government gonna step in?’” he recalled. “It was the tiniest glimpse of hope but we realized, ‘No, of course not.’ But that’s OK. I love doing this.”
Leary credits Boston Bruins hockey legend Cam Neely, now the team’s president, as his inspiration for using fame for charitable purposes. Neely’s work supporting cancer patients at Tufts Medical Center provided a model for meaningful celebrity involvement.
“He was the first person I saw where I thought, ‘Wow, somebody famous can really make a difference,’” Leary reflected. “So by the time I had to do something, I had a good example of what you can use fame for.”
