Fairfield Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation Donates to Tommy Fund

FAIRFIELD, CT - The Fairfield Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation (FFFCF) revealed a fundraising total of $36,000 on Jan. 29 for the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer from Dec.’s “Santa Express” event at the Fairfield Fire School.

Over the last seven years, The FFFCF has raised $150,000 towards supporting childhood cancer patients and their families receiving care at the Tommy Fund Pediatric Hematology & Oncology Center, Smilow Cancer Hospital and its affiliates.

Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Smith, President of the FFFCF and Tommy Fund Board Member, presented the donation with Lieutenant Jeff Pinckney, Treasurer of the FFFCF, to Rebecca M Santoli, Executive Director of the Tommy Fund, and Patrick Sullivan, Board Treasurer of the Tommy Fund, in memory of Charlie Capalbo, former Fairfield resident.

“Each year it is our goal to try and raise one dollar more than we have each year before,” said Smith. “Last year was an incredible year and we know at some point we are going to get to the point where we cannot reach that total. I’m happy to say that that is not this year.”

The 2022 Santa Express visited 160 homes between Dec. 9 and 11, greeting over 700 kids with Santa. The Gibson Family, the largest house with 46 children visited by the Santa Express, were in attendance and thanked for their support.

During the weekend, 60 members and family volunteers worked on the crews to run the event, many of which attended the presentation.

Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer would like to thank Smith, Pinckney, Matt Striebe, FFFCF Secretary, Fire Fighter Chris Eidam, FFFCF Trustee, the Fairfield Firefighters Association Local 1426, and everyone at the Fairfield Fire Department who offered their time and support.

For 70 years, the Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer has provided HELP & HOPE by supporting families of children with cancer receiving care at Smilow Cancer Hospital, Yale-New Haven and its affiliates during a critical time in their lives.