Dennis Leary: Fundraiser

After the events of September 11, actor and comedian Denis Leary (interviewed in the February/March issue of Irish America) felt compelled to raise money for the families of deceased firefighters through the Leary Firefighters’ Foundation. Leafy, who grew up in an Irish family with its fair share of police officers and firefighters, started the foundation a year and a half ago when six firefighters including his cousin were killed on the job in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts. As part of his fundraising activities, he hosted a charity hockey game and organized a benefit at the Park restaurant in Manhattan in October which raised $325,000 for his fund, which he had started with $100,000 of his own money. Leary continues to champion the cause of the firefighters. “Every time I run into a politician of note, I will tell him our message — that our aim is to get firefighters more money on every front. He can tell us it’s not going to happen but we’re not going to take no for an answer.” ♦