Photo Courtesy
Leary Firefighting Foundation
|
HEATHER CASPI
Firehouse.Com News
Celebrities and other supporters will come together in Worcester,
Massachusetts for the second time to raise money in memory of the
six local firefighters who were killed in December 1999.
The Leary Firefighters Foundation 's second annual fundraising event,
The Celebrity Hat Trick, is a two-day event featuring a celebrity
hockey game and a celebrity golf tournament.
In addition to actor Denis Leary, president of the foundation, the
event will feature celebrities including Michael J. Fox, Elizabeth
Hurley, Conan O'Brien, Jason Priestly, Kiefer Sutherland, and Scott
Wolf. The "Hollywood All-Star" hockey team will play against members
of the "Bruins Alumni Team," including Bobby Orr, Johnny Bucyk, Phil
Esposito, Johnny McKenzie, Cam Neely, Terry O'Reilly, and Derek
Sanderson.
Leary, a Worcester native, started the foundation in response the
1999 tragedy which claimed his cousin, Jeremiah M. Lucey, and his
old friend and classmate, Thomas E. Spencer.
The other firefighters killed in the warehouse blaze were James F.
Lyons, Joseph T. McGuirk, Timothy P. Jackson and Paul A. Brotherton.
"Last year this event raised over $350,000 dollars but more
importantly - put a smile on the faces of the firefighters and their
families," Leary said at a press conference.
"We hope to increase our contributions this year and to once again
remember our fallen heroes with a good laugh and a great time."
The goal is to match or surpass the $350,000 raised last year for
the Worcester Firefighters Local 1009 Equipment Fund. The majority of
that money is being used to build a four-story burn building that
will serve sixty local fire departments, said Frank Raffa, head of
Local 1009.
Raffa said the money has also gone toward an SCBA response unit truck
and equipment for the dive rescue team.
"We'll never stop thanking Denis Leary and the Leary Firefighters
Foundation," Raffa said. "They put a smile on our face where there
hasn't been one for a long time."
Raffa also thanked Firehouse.com for the $4,000 donation they
presented to union officials at the Firehouse Expo 2001 in Baltimore.
The money was raised through the sale of videos of the six
firefighters' memorial service, in partnership with New England Cable
News. Raffa said the money will go toward building a memorial to
honor the six. The location and design of the memorial are still
being discussed by the family members and project coordinators.
"On behalf of the members of my local, we're extremely grateful for
all the support Firehouse.com has given us," Raffa said, citing the
donation, extensive news coverage of the tragedy, and coverage of the
Worcester Firefighters Memorial Safety and Training Seminar, which
will be held this year on October 26-28.
Firehouse.com also donated another $4,000, raised through the video
sales, to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
The Hollywood All-Stars vs. Boston Bruins Alumni game, which is open
to the public, will take place Sunday, September 30 at 3:00 p.m. at
Worcester's Centrum Centre. The celebrity dinner following the game
and the golf tournament on October 1 are private events.
"From the tragic events of December 3rd 1999 to the Father's Day fire
in New York this past June to the current battle being waged against
Forest Fires in the Pacific Northwest we are almost constantly
reminded of how dangerous and necessary this occupation really is,"
Leary said.
"The Leary Firefighter Foundation pays tribute to these brave men and
women and honors their courageous efforts. I would like to thank my
partner in crime Bobby Orr, without whom the Foundation would not
exist.
"I know I speak for Bobby when I say God bless the Worcester
Firefighters and Firefighters around the world - and thank you all
for being here with us this morning."
Hollywood All-Star Team:
Denis Leary (Captain)
Elizabeth Hurley (Coach)
- Cameron Bancroft
- Ron Duguay
- Bobby Farrelly
- Ace Bailey
- John Bucyk (Captain)
- Phil Esposito
- Michael J. Fox
- U.S. Senator John Kerry
- Dan Moriarty
- Don Marcotte
- Gary Nylund
- Jason Priestly
- Brian Propp
- John Saunders (ESPN)
- Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Tyler Stewart (Bare Naked Ladies)
- Kiefer Sutherland
- Scott Wolf
Bruins Alumni Team:
Bobby Orr (Coach)
Derek Sanderson (Coach)
- Ken Hodge
- Ken Linseman
- John McKenzie
- Rick Middleton
- Cam Neely
- Terry O'Reilly
- Bill Ranford
Commentary By:
Lenny Clarke
Conan O'Brien
Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament - Monday, October 1
- Cameron Bancroft
- Peter Brock
- Lenny Clarke
- Bob Cousy
- Billy Crudup
- Ted Demme
- Peter Farrelly
- Scott Wolf
Tickets for the hockey game are available at Worcester's Centrum Centre Box
Office or through Ticketmaster: 617-931-2000 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are $ 15-$ 40.
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