Our Reason for Being…

In Memory of Christopher, with Love

Following in the footsteps of his Firefighter father, Christopher Santora was a member of Engine 54/Ladder 4 for only 2 months before he lost his life tragically on 9/11. Before he signed up for the FDNY Fire Academy, he’d already followed in the footsteps of his mother as a teacher in the NYC Public School system. No grass grew under his feet, as they say. Christopher had a certain, special “something.”

In memory and celebration of Christopher and the special person he was, the Firefighter Christopher Santora Educational Scholarship Fund is dedicated to the continuing education of young American students from all walks of life who have something special about them as well.

We award scholarships not based on school grades, or recommendations, or academic successes. In fact, we never even know to whom we’re awarding the scholarships until we’ve determined the winners. So how do we pick our scholars?

Purchase Your Dinner Dance Tickets

Posted in the “Dinner Dance” section on March 1st, 2010

WHEN: Friday, June 11th, 2010, 7pm—Midnight
WHERE: Riccardo’s by the Bridge
PRICE: $75 per ticket

Starting February 1st, 2010, you can purchase your tickets to the Annual Dinner Dance conveniently and securely online! Get yours before they’re sold out!

Purchase Your Tickets Online

The Day the Towers Fell

Posted in the “Books” section on January 28th, 2009

“The Day the Towers” Fell was written to help explain what happened on September 11, 2001. This book tries to explain the horrors of 9/11 in a less graphic way. It was written with love by a 27–year NYC Public School teacher/childhood educator who is also the mother of one of the 343 Firefighters who lost their lives that day.

My Son Christopher

Posted in the “Books” section on January 27th, 2009

“My Son Christopher” is the story of a mother’s unconditional love for her son. “No matter what he ever did I loved him because he was my son,” the author, Maureen Crethan Santora, explains.

Written for the 5–8 year old age group, this is a book that seeks to nurture and reassure, something all of our children can use more of.

“My Son Christopher” Video Promotion Now Online

Posted in the “Books” section on June 2nd, 2009

Maureen Santora was recently in Los Angeles to promote her newest book, “We Remember,” a memorial of several of the Firefighters lost in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center.

She took some time to sit down with her book publisher, Xlibris, and record this promotional video for her previous book, “My Son Christopher.” Take a look…

What’s New?

Purchase Your Journal Ads

Online ordering for the 2010 Journal is now open

Posted in the “Journal” section on March 1st, 2010

Taking an ad in our Journal does more than simply support our Scholarship Fund. It encourages our scholarship winners to strive on. It provides them with the praise and recognition of people who, even though they might not know them, applaud their achievement.

Your support of our Journal through your ads is extremely important to us.

Purchase Your Journal Ad Online

Learn More or Buy Your Ad online now!…

2010 FDNY Scholarship is now Closed

Thanks to all of you who submitted your entries!

Posted in the “Scholarship Fund” section on March 3rd, 2010

The deadline for FDNY Scholarships was 5:00pm on Monday, March 1, 2010. We hope that you were able to get yours in on time!

Scholarship Essay Contest Closed for 2010

If you entered, we wish you luck!

Posted in the “Scholarship Fund” section on March 3rd, 2010

Scholarship Essay Contest Closed for 2010

The Scholarship Essay Contest runs from January to February of each year. In January we hand out the School packets and announce the question. In February we collect the essay submissions online and from the schools. then the judging begins.

Rebels With a Cause

Group Seeks to Ensure Rank and Title Appear with Names of 9/11 Responders

Posted in the “Site News” section on September 13th, 2009

Mayor Bloomberg, along with the 9/11 Memorial Planning Board, have long proposed that the Ranks and Titles of First Responders be stripped from the Memorial, and that they not be grouped separately as FDNY or PAPD or NYPD, etc. Rather, they would have the Rank-less and Title-less First Responder names be mixed amongst those of all of the deceased, so as not to “single them out” for extraordinary notice.

Please support the group ”911 Rank-Title Matter For All” in any way you can.

Learn more about this Group…

What’s Up With That?

Posted in the “Site News” section on January 24th, 2010

Early in January the Huffington Post reported on International Living’s 30th annual “Quality of Life Index.” France ranked #1 and the image used as that country’s national symbol was, of course, the Eiffel Tower. The United States placed seventh and symbolizing us wasn’t the US Capitol or the Empire State Building; it was the missing World Trade Center…

It would be hard to imagine a worse message to send the world than a 1776-foot tombstone and the “largest manmade falls in North America” — whose roar will recall the horrifying sound of crumbling towers — instead of the simple, stirring memorial that belongs there. They might as well include a neon sign flashing “Second-Class Country.” A headline about a mock-up of the morbid memorial falls in the 1/23/10 New York Post read: “9/11 shrine’s cascade of grief begins flowing!” Who thinks we’ve become the kind of country that enshrines grief? Whose doing is that? Not the people’s — that’s for sure.

The 9/11 Health Bill (HR 847) Needs Your Support

Coming to a Vote Soon! Contact your Representative!

Posted in the “Site News” section on February 19th, 2010

The 9/11 Health Bill (HR 847) Needs Your Support

In less than 2 weeks, the 9/11 health bill (HR 847) which was co-authored by Congresswoman Maloney and Congressman Nadler, is heading into a vote in the House Health Subcommittee. Mrs. Maloney and Mr. Nadler, who have been fighting to protect 9/11 health care for the community as well as for responders, NEED YOUR SUPPORT NOW! We are asking that you call and/or email their offices ASAP Please state your support for HR 847 and the 9/11 community medical program and your opposition to any cuts that would eliminate or harm that program. This will only take a few minutes!

From our 9/11 Headlines Page…

Most Recent News Post:

Mount Sinai researchers are the first to identify heart abnormalities in World Trade Center workers

Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine are presenting more than 20 ground-breaking studies at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) 59th annual scientific session (ACC.10) in Atlanta. Their research includes data showing that the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse has caused potentially dangerous heart problems in responders on-site.

Jacqueline Moline, MD, Vice Chair, Department of Preventive Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine leads The World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. The Program provided federal funding for two WTC heart studies, of which Dr. Moline is the primary investigator. Lori Croft, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Mary Ann McLaughlin, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine and Cardiology, conducted the analyses of 1,236 workers who participated in the program from January 2008 to June 2009.

Dr. Croft's study, "First Documentation of Cardiac Dysfunction Following Exposure to the World Trade Center Disaster," showed that responders have impaired diastolic function of both the right and left ventricle, meaning their hearts do not relax normally, which can put them at risk for heart problems such as shortness of breath and heart failure. More than 50 percent had abnormal relaxation of the left ventricle compared to only seven percent of people of a similar age in the general population. Greater than 60 percent had isolated impaired diastolic function in the right ventricle of the heart, which pumps blood to the lungs.

Dr. Croft and her colleagues suspect that debris inhaled from the WTC site may have contributed to these heart abnormalities, however, caution that there is no comparison data of people working in a similar urban community plagued by air pollution and life and emotional stresses who were not exposed to the WTC.

The Firefighter Christopher Santora Educational Scholarship Fund Website

Our Reason for Being…

In Memory of Christopher, with Love

Featured Items

What’s New?

Online ordering for the 2010 Journal is now open

Thanks to all of you who submitted your entries!

If you entered, we wish you luck!

Group Seeks to Ensure Rank and Title Appear with Names of 9/11 Responders

Coming to a Vote Soon! Contact your Representative!

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