Our Fund provides a safety net to 4,567 EMTs and Paramedics that serve as frontline medical care providers across NYC’s five boroughs. We call them NYC’s street doctors as vulnerable NYC populations often will not seek medical care until it is an emergency.
Our fund was founded by members of the FDNY EMS (Fire Department of New York City Emergency Medical Services). EMTs and Paramedics can elect to give $2/paycheck into our fund to help an EMTs and Paramedics experiencing Hardship.
As of this Giving Tuesday, they have contributed $39,504 to our Fund.
Our Goal is to Match their contributions. Can you help us Match?
About our vital work -
Meals during the Initial Pandemic Surge
At the height of the 2020 Pandemic, we partnered with Verizon to deliver over 25,000 meals from local NYC restaurants to FDNY EMTs and Paramedics who working 16+ hour shifts often six days in a row. We started on Easter Sunday and extended to 35 days.
Confidential Mental Health Services
In the summer of 2020, after three EMS FDNY suicides and additional deaths due to substance abuse, the fund partnered with the Trauma Recovery Network and National Institute for Psychotherapies to provide confidential mental health services during the pandemic.
“The psychological toll of handling COVID-19 calls is just unbelievable,” Gary Miller, a retired emergency services worker who serves on the fund’s board, told the New York Post in September 2020.
The Fund raises monies to provide confidential mental health care.
Hardship Assistance Related to the Pandemic and beyond
In 2020 we received 57 Applications for Financial Assistance.
In 2021, we received 64 Applications for Financial Assistance - including 6 EMTs who lost everything to Hurricane Ida.
In 2022, we received 88 Applications for Financial Assistance - three were deaths including the murder of Capt. Alison Russo.
We rely on donations large and small to continue our vital work. We partner whenever possible with those who have well-established expertise - Honor Emergency Fund, FDNY Family Assistance Unit, Brave of Heart Fund, Trauma Recovery Network, National Institute for Psychotherapies and new mental health partner Hands on Health Associates.
Founded in 2017 after FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo’s Line of Duty Death.
Achieved Non-Profit Status in February 2019.
Our Financials are available on Guidestar.
Mission: The EMS FDNY Help Fund is a 501(c)(3). The funds that we raise are designated expressly for the Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics of the FDNY. Our mission is to ensure the security of our Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics and their families in the event of death, injury, illness or hardship. emsfdnyhelpfund.com