The Silver Shield Foundation Hosts Successful Walk to Support Families of Fallen First Responders

By Greenwich Sentinel
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Front row, left to right: Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo; Amy McCooe, Executive Director, The Wolverine Foundation; NYPD Chief of Dept. Jeffrey Maddrey; SSF CEO KC Fuchs; SSF Trustee Chuck Scarborough, NYPD First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella; Nassau County Police Commissioner Pat Ryder; SSF Trustee Vinny LeVien, Former NYPD Chief of Dept. and Silver Shield Foundation Trustee Terry Monahan. Photo: SSF

By Kia Heavey

In 1982, George M. Steinbrenner III, the Principal Owner of the New York Yankees, was attending the funeral of a police officer who had been killed in the line of duty. He watched as the American flag was folded military-style and presented to the officer’s wife and children. Deeply moved, Mr. Steinbrenner became concerned for the fatherless children. Who would pay for their education when it was time for college?

Determined that something had to be done, he joined forces with his close friend, Olympic bronze medalist James E. Fuchs. Together, they established the Silver Shield Foundation (SSF).

Over 40 years later, James Fuch’s daughter, KC Fuchs, serves as CEO of the SSF as the organization continues to raise funds that provide educational support for the children and surviving spouses of Police Officers, Firefighters, and EMS members killed in the line of duty.

The SSF is committed to helping these families cope with their enormous loss. “A large part of that vision is providing tuition assistance for college, graduate school, vocational or technical school, private secondary school, and tutoring services,” the organization says on its website. “Whatever the need, the Silver Shield Foundation sets aside an educational fund for each surviving child to take advantage of opportunities that enable them to achieve their educational dream and a brighter future.” No application is required. Any time the tragic news breaks of a line-of-duty death in the NYC metro area, the SSF goes to work.

“Our program is designed to safe guard the futures of children whose parents sacrificed their own lives to save the lives of others,” explains the SSF. “Our scholarship program invests in the education of the children and surviving spouses of the NYC Police Department, NYC Fire Department/ EMS, NY/NJ Port Authority Police Departments, NY, NJ, and CT State Police, Nassau and Suffolk County police departments and all police departments in CT.”

“We appreciate everything that our first responders do for us, putting their life on the line every day to keep us safe,” says Fuchs. One of the ways she helps her organization fundraise is through its Annual SSF Greenwich Walk. Representatives from Police, Fire, and EMS agencies throughout the tri-state area converge on the Greenwich Point park. Along with supporters and friends, the group holds a moving opening ceremony featuring bagpipers, vocalists singing the National Anthem and God Bless America, and speakers. Then everyone sets off on the three-mile march, followed by a delicious cookout. This year’s Walk was blessed with abundant sunshine and temperate weather for early November in the Northeast.

“I’m really happy with the event this year,” said KC. “It definitely was outstanding, and it gets bigger every year. We get more law enforcement coming, and we had participation from the EMS and the fire department. We had the commissioner from FDNY, among others, and everybody — all our supporters.”

From left to right: Caroline Caitlyn and Christine Figoski are the daughters of NYPD Det. Peter Figoski, who was killed in 2011; Janet and Katrina Snyder lost their brother, FDNY Supervising Fire Marshall George Schneider, in the line of duty this year. Photo: SSF

The Walk also hosts families of fallen first responders so they can surround them with support. “We had three families from the NYPD,” she told me. “One is new this year; her son is just two years old. And then we had the Figoski children, who are grown adults now — we helped them in school, and three out of the four daughters are here. Their father was killed in 2011. We had another widow from the NYPD. And then we had a New Jersey State trooper’s mother, who is an advocate for the Move Over Law.

Donna Zotero lost her son, New Jersey State Trooper Marc Castellano, in 2010. Now, she works with the New Jersey State Police to raise awareness. “We put together a program,” she explains. “I go to high school students and talk to them about the Move Over Law and safe driving. And to date, I’ve spoken to about 140,000 people.”

While the law requiring motorists to move over one lane or slow down when passing stopped responders on the highway was already in place, few people were aware of it and there were no penalties for failure to comply. Zotero worked with state legislators to add points to the law. She also helped get it expanded to cover anyone who was stopped on a roadway.

Support for Zotero’s cause continues to grow. “The Giants have just recently done a PSA, which they show during their home games,” she says.

Fuchs estimates over 200 people participated in this year’s walk — the largest number to date. Not only that, but the event hit its fundraising goal of $155,000, prompting her to set a new goal of trying to equal last year’s total donations of $180,000. Anyone interested in learning more or supporting the Silver Shield Foundation’s mission can visit their website: www.silvershieldfoundation.org. In addition, the event’s online auction will remain open until Nov. 22.