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