Giants Show Support for Local Firehouse
Team continues support of "Adopt-a-Firehouse" program.
By Michael Eisen, Giants.com

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September 9, 2003

East Rutherford, N.J. - Kerry Collins was the target of an all-out blitz today, and he loved every minute of it.

Collins has an affinity for firefighters. He was in Jersey City last year when the Giants donated a newly renovated kitchen as they adopted the Rescue Company 1/Squad 4 firehouse. In 2001, Collins generated $120,000 in donations for Engine House 5 in downtown Manhattan.

"More than anything, I enjoy these guys," Collins said. "These are the kind of people I like to hang around with. I have as much fun as they do.

"The biggest thing I get from coming to firehouses is that they're hard-working guys, they love football and for them to see a player from their favorite team come, I think they appreciate it. They're big fans and they know the game. They enjoy talking about it, and they're opinionated. They're the kind of people I like to meet."

Collins was joined at the firehouse by teammates Dhani Jones, Delvin Joyce and Jeff Hatch, as well as executive vice president and chief operating officer John Mara and general manager Ernie Accorsi. The group signed autographs and had lunch with the firefighters and their families. The team also made a special presentation of a plaque to the firefighters.

The donation of televisions was the second event in a continuing partnership between the Giants and the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ). Each year, the Giants and PJANJ will team up to participate in the Adopt-a-Firehouse program, and the team will donate much-needed equipment to firehouses.

The televisions donated today will be placed in five firehouses, four in Hackensack and one in Englewood. They will allow the firehouses to utilize the newest fire service training programs, many of which are now delivered in DVD interactive formatting.

"What people tend to overlook so often are the sacrifices guys like this make for the rest of us," Mara said. "Up until 9/11, I think many of us really didn't appreciate it. This is our way of showing these guys that they're always in our thoughts and whatever we can do to help we're proud to do. This is a fun day for us."

"These guys do a great service for the community," Joyce said. "It's great being here with these guys. You can tell they're very proud guys. They seem like a family, and that's something we try to be with the Giants. For all they do for us, the least I can do is come out here for a couple of hours, say hi and sign autographs."

And there were plenty to sign. Of Hackensack's 99 firefighters, 21 were on duty at the firehouse where today's ceremony took place. Another 40 or so were present for the ceremony, and most of them were accompanied by multiple family members, many of whom wore Giants jerseys and hats.

"This is absolutely terrific," said Thomas P. Canzenella, the president of the PFANJ. "I can't tell you how much it means to our guys for the Giants organization and the administrative staff and the players to take the time to come out here. We look up to these guys, and they in turn tell us they look up to us. So it's a nice get-together. For them to come here and spend time with us during the season, when they're preparing for a game, is very touching. Every time we look at those TV sets they will have special meaning."

"This department is ecstatic," said Richard Yannelli, the Chief of the Hackensack Fire Department. "There's probably not a fireman on the job that's not a sports fan. It definitely makes everybody here feel good to see them."

More importantly, the televisions will be used to keep the firefighters on the cutting edge of their profession.

"We're the second department in the state to have this opportunity," Yannelli said of the Adopt-a-Firehouse program. "The TVs will definitely enhance our training capabilities. The department does a lot of training, and with the large-screen TVs it will be easier for the training to be given."

"Since 9/11 there is so much concern in fire service across the country about building collapses and weapons of mass destruction used in terrorism," Canzanella said. "Our training has increased tenfold. There's not a day that goes by that we don't see some new equipment that's much more sophisticated in nature, and that takes hours of training to become proficient. This kind of thing is terrific. You can't quantify what it means in dollars."

How did the Hackensack Fire Department get chosen to receive the televisions?

"Our union works with the Giants. I'm the union president and this is where I work," Canzanella said. "Last year I got beat up pretty bad when I came back to the firehouse (from Jersey City). And we need them. Next year, we'll pick another location."

And Collins and some of his teammates will surely be there for a presentation.

"After Sept. 11, I think we all have a greater appreciation for what they do for us," said Collins. "To be able to give back and be able to show them that we do appreciate what they do for us is certainly a great thing. It's something I'm proud to be a part of."

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