New York, NY - May 25, 2021) - In recognition of the 20-Year Commemoration of 9/11, Fun City Bowl, (the annual football game between NY’s bravest and finest) today announced that the 48th Annual FDNY vs. NYPD Football Game will benefit and be presented by FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION. The event will feature a pregame tribute that includes three different agencies of first responders who selflessly served on the frontlines of the pandemic – the FDNY, NYPD and the PAPD – all coming together to benefit FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION on Sunday, June 6th at MetLife Stadium. Featuring a full day of activities and attractions, proceeds from the family, sports and entertainment event will have a profound impact on first responder families.
Truly celebratory in nature, the 48th Annual Fun City Bowl features a family style tailgate party, marching bands, free food and refreshments, first responder vehicles, vintage cars, a rock-climbing wall, a rope course, a children’s football clinic, a BBQ smoker, a balloon release, vehicle sweepstakes and a “9/11 First Responders Commemorative Walk” interactive experience. www.FunCityBowl.com - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPm--7Vn7YY
“With honor guards, pipe & drum bands, and a tribute from the First Responders & Children’s Chorus, our pregame ceremony will not only salute the first responder heroes we lost on 9/11, but also the first responders who contracted 9/11-related illnesses years later. We’re also paying tribute to the children of lost first responders to whom our organization has awarded college scholarships for 20 years,” said Jillian Crane, President of the First Responders Children’s Foundation. “These children embody resilience and hope for the future.”
Scholarship Recipients include Samantha Switzer, New York University, Class of 2022, now working as a nurse. Her father was FDNY Firefighter William Switzer who died from 9/11-related illnesses in 2018; Matthew Murphy, Northeastern University, Class of 2024, studying to be a chemical engineer to help those with chronic lung disease. His Father is NYPD Officer Edward Murphy who served at Ground Zero on 9/11 and has 9/11-related chronic lung disease; Morgan Hovan, Franklin and Marshall, Class of 2024. Her father is a police officer with the Bayonne, NJ Police Department; Miah Hunt, West Virginia University, Class of 2021, nursing student hoping to work in the nursing unit that helped her father, NYPD Sergeant Jeremiah J. Hunt who served at Ground Zero on 9/11 and died in 2019 from 9/11-related Cancer; Erin Joyce, University of Delaware, Class of 2018 & now a nurse. Her father is retired FDNY Sergeant Jeremiah (Butch) J. Hunt who was at Ground Zero on 9/11 and who became disabled in 2014; Francesca Mosomillo, Iona College, Class of 2018. She is following in her father’s footsteps working as a NYPD officer wearing her father’s shield number; and Thomas Ulmer, Moravian College Class of 2024. His father is disabled Police Officer Gary Ulmer with the Bound Brook, NJ Police Department.
The Fun City Bowl will be attended by dignitaries such as Daniel Nigro, Fire Commissioner, City of New York; Dermot Shea, Police Commissioner, New York Police Department; and Edward Center, Superintendent of Police, Port Authority of NY & NJ Police Department.
Music at the event will feature “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed by the First Responders & Children’s Chorus produced by NYPD Sergeant Johnny Hines with musical direction by La Toya Lewis. The day’s musical offerings will also feature NYPD Youth Coordination Officer, Makiah Brown, performing a moving rendition of “God Bless America” and country music composer & performer, Darryl Worley, performing his 9/11 anthem, “Have You Forgotten?” at halftime.
Several vehicles will be on site as part of a sweepstakes that offer up three prizes – First Prize: a custom 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon 4X4 truck; Second Prize: a high-end Chevrolet Equinox; and Third Prize: a new Vespa GTV 300 scooter custom painted by airbrush artist Alan Pastrana with the Statue of Liberty and an American eagle on the face plate and American flags waving in the breeze on the back fenders.
Food will be organized, prepared, and served by The Steve Rich Group & "Tank Que,” a one-of-a-kind BBQ smoker created by Steve Rich which will provide free BBQ to football fans attending the tailgate party.
Tickets start at $25 and include free parking. Sponsorship opportunities are available by contacting Sarah Greene at Sarah@1stRCF.org / (773) 301-0031. Proceeds from the event will support college scholarships and grants for first responder families who have made the ultimate sacrifice and also help support the FDNY and NYPD football teams. Contributions will have a direct and immediate impact on the children whose families have already sacrificed so much.
EVENT LINEUP:
9:00 am – 2:00 pm: Tailgate Party with food & refreshments, commemorative vehicles, vintage cars, rock climbing wall and rope course, game day boutique, 9/11 First Responders Commemorative Walk, football clinic for children
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm: 20 Year Commemoration of 9/11 Pregame Tribute saluting First Responders lost on 9/11, honoring first responders with 9/11-related illnesses, recognizing children of first responders who embody resilience & hope for the future, pipes & drums & agency honor guards, musical performances by first responders & children
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Coin Toss in honor of FDNY Chaplain Father Mychal Judge, New York’s Bravest vs. New York’s Finest, 48th Annual Fun City Bowl
The 48th Annual Fun City Bowl is being presented in collaboration with many first responder partner agencies, unions and organizations. The combined effort of the three host agencies will be demonstrated by:
· Three agency badges on the official Game Day T-shirt
· Three agency badges on the official Commemorative Game Day Challenge Coin
· Three agency flags flying over MetLife Stadium
· Three agency heads speaking on the field during the Pregame Tribute
MetLife Stadium is located at 1 MetLife Stadium Drive in East Rutherford, New Jersey and is following all health regulations mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and the State of New Jersey. Attendance is strictly limited to 6,000 within the Stadium which normally seats 82,500. Spectators will be seated outdoors in separate pods of 4 seats, and each pod of 4 seats will be 6 feet distant from the next pod of 4 seats. Unused seats will be zip-tied closed to enforce social distancing. Free masks and COVID testing will be available outside the Stadium. Testing and proof of vaccine are not required for sports events, restaurants, or shopping in New Jersey.
About First Responders Children's Foundation
For 20 years, First Responders Children's Foundation has been providing college scholarships to the children of first responders who have been injured or lost in the line of duty. The Foundation also awards grants to families enduring financial hardship and supports educational activities and programs created by first responder organizations to benefit children or the communities in which they live. The First Responders Children's Foundation COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund provides financial hardship grants, PPE, and hotel accommodations to first responders on the front lines of the pandemic. The Foundation also pays for funerals of first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice. More information about First Responders Children’s Foundation is available at www.1stRCF.org. Follow First Responders Children's Foundation on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @1stRCF.