Timely for 10/4 - 10/11 Fire Prevention Week, Drew and Nancy Carbone talk about the work Friends of Firefighters have done to support mental wellness and mental health. The Founder and Executive Director, Nancy discusses the non-profit's history, its mission with firefighters and families, and how COVID has impacted and changed everything. Created after the tragedies of September 11th, Friends of Firefighters is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing free, confidential mental health and wellness services.
Later in the conversation, they talk about the organization’s influence on the 2020 Judd Apatow comedy movie, The King of Staten Island.
Nancy started this non-profit venture back on September 11th, 2001 and has never looked back. Their board of advisors includes a cast of FDNY officials and other industry leaders. Steve Buscemi and Gary Sinise round out the board among many important names in the first industry.
2:30 - Introductions
3:56 - History / What they do
8:18 - Helping out the families
11:00 - September 11th Sicknesses / Suicides
13:18 - Separation from the FDNY
14:32 - Vincent Dunn
18:12 - Outreach Team
19:10 - COVID effects
23:46 - Back to School initiative
28:20 - NY Fire Sprinkler Contractor's Association
29:20 - Steve Buscemi (Board of Advisors)
31:30 - NYC Comedy-Drama, The King of Staten Island Movie
33:20 - Pete Davidson
38:46 - Friends of Firefighters beyond NYC
40:46 - Contact Info
Discussed in the Episode:
FriendsOfFirefighters.org
InspectPoint.com
