Escape Artist | Hilarious Comedian | Silent Auction

Firehouse Expo & 9/11 Patch Project's Fully Involved Comedy Tour will be a huge night in Baltimore! Starting at 6pm, on July 19th, we will start off the night with a huge Silent Auction, hosted by BW Unlimited--featuring signed Sports Memorabilia, unsigned items, jewelry, gift baskets, travel packages and  much more. 100% of the proceeds of the auction and the show, will benefit the Feal Good Foundation, Terry Farrell Fund, NYC Bravest Scholarship Fund and the 9/11 Patch Project Fund.

Around 7:30, amazing escape artist Spencer Horsman, seen recently on America's Got Talent, will open the show with a death defying escape! As the youngest escape artist in the world, at 26, Spencer has already thrilled millions of TV viewers by escaping the giant jaws of a bear trap while hanging 20 feet above the stage in a straight jacket and also escaped drowning by freeing himself from a locked water tank while holding his breath. What will he do on stage in Baltimore? You don't want to miss this!!

Finally, our headline act was a former contestant on Last Comic Standing, and has already had four specials on Comedy Central. Ralphie’s record breaking fourth Comedy Central special, “Too Big to Ignore” aired March 4.Voted one of Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch, Ralphie May spreads his comedic wealth further than ever by tackling topics that will make you think and occasionally squirm. With no subject off limits, Ralphie dives in and reveals the hilarious quirks that infiltrate politics, race and even his family. Lovable enough to get away with anything, Ralphie continues to capture the hearts of thousands on his sold out tours and promises to make you gleefully uncomfortable.

The Fully Involved Comedy Tour is an official event of the Baltimore Firehouse Expo and is also open to the public. With only 4 days left, grab your tickets while you can HERE. Special thanks to our Gold Event Sponsor is the Feal Good Foundation.

Night of Comedy to Benefit Four 9/11 Charities

July 19th, 2012, at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center, comedian Ralphie May will star in the Fully Involved Comedy Tour. There are two shows, one at 8pm and the other at 10:30p. Tickets are available HERE.

This is a special show co-produced by Firehouse Expo an the 9/11 Patch Project and will raise funds for the Feal Good Foundation, Terry Farrell Fund, NYC Bravest Scholarship Fund and the 9/11 Patch Project Fund. The event is part of the Firehouse Expo convention and exhibit in Baltimore and also open to the public.

Come help us raise funds for some great 9/11 Charities and get entertained by a great popular comedian at the same time. There will also be a Silent Auction outside the ballroom that will open at 6pm. There will be some great sports memorabilia and other awesome items there to bid on. This auction is also part of the fund raising for the (4) 9/11 Charities so please head out early to participate.

Please pass this on to all Firehouse Expo participants and residents of Baltimore. The event is 10 days away--let's sell this great event out.

Thank you!

Heard the Numbers "9/11" a Bit To Much?

Son of FDNY's John Mc Namara at fathers funeral

It is time to step up. There are too many spectators continuing to watch stories of 9/11 continue to unfold. We need more folks to take action--yes, we are asking for your help! --DON'T STOP READING  NOW, PLENTY OF GOOD STUFF BELOW--It has been over 10 years since the tragic events of 9/11 but it is never time to move on from the memory of our fallen heroes and those who are still battling life threatening illnesses from their heroic acts at Ground Zero. 343 FDNY Firefighters were lost on 9/11 and over 800 more Responders have died since then from cancers and respiratory illnesses. FDNY's John Mc Namara was one of them.

You may think that you have heard the numbers "9/11" far too much but just think about the families of the fallen and the 1^st Responders, still suffering serious health consequences from their selfless actions working “the pile”—they will NEVER forget!

Moving on from the acts of terrorism and promoting healing is the right thing to do. However, the healing process continues and the need for support is constant. Too many folks still on the sidelines watching with the mentality that they are not directly involved so what is there to do? Wake up call--there is plenty to do and a strong need to move folks off the sidelines and into the battle. If you live in the U.S., you need to be involved. Period.

The 9/11 Patch Project was founded because of four words that were spoken by an FDNY Firefighter at Ground Zero, “Please Don’t Forget Us.” Those words have been acted upon by over 8000 organizations around the world that made a promise with us to NEVER FORGET. They stepped up and made that promise with us by adding one of the 9/11 Patches to their uniforms or one of the 9/11 Decals to their apparatus and vehicles. In participating in the project, they also helped us raise funds for 9/11 related organizations that continue to promote that healing and bridge the tremendous gap of support that the government provides for them.

Without the Feal Good Foundation (FGF) and the relentless activism of founder John Feal, the Zadroga Bill would not have passed through Congress and the Senate. And 50 different types of cancers would not have been added to the bill. By the way, John Feal stepped up big time to support an event you will read about below--he bought the largest sponsorship! Is everyone ok with this? The event is supposed to raise funds for his foundation. That should bring someone off the sidelines!

Without the Terry Farrell Fund (named after fallen FDNY firefighter Terry Farrell) Brian Farrell, his brother and President of the fund, would not be able to support fire organizations in the U.S. who are at risk due to failing or nonexistent apparatus and protective equipment. There would be no scholarships to assist in much needed training and there would be sick and injured firefighters out there left without much needed financial aid. By the way again, Brian stepped up and was the very first to buy a bunch of tickets for the same event that will also benefit his fund. Is that ok with everyone?

Finally, without the NYC Bravest Scholarship Fund, many children of fallen FDNY firefighters would not have the opportunity to afford a formal education. And a third by the way, the FDNY Uniformed Fire Officers (Administers the Scholarship Fund) stepped up and through all their support to the 9/11 Patch Project. If we're good enough for the FDNY, we should have your organizations support too!

Today, selling patches and decals does not raise much money for these critically important funds—especially when they are bought one or two a time by those looking for souvenirs. Arranging fund raising events like our Fully Involved Comedy Tour, does. Last year with the help of FireCareers.com, our 10 Yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Tour raised nearly $20,000 that was equally split between the organizations mentioned above. These fund raising events do work!

So move on from the tragedy of 9/11 but join us in our eternal pledge to NEVER FORGET the heroes of 9/11 and those sick and injured that continue to need our support. It may be American to be resilient but it is not very American to forget those who are still sick and may die soon. It is also not very American to forget the hundreds of 1^st Responders that gave their lives on 9/11 so that thousands can still be alive today.Of course we are not talking about everyone--many have stepped up but many others are perfectly happy to let them get involved while they look on.

The economy is tough for everyone. Understanding that everyone has a threshold on what they are able to contribute, the 9/11 Patch Project has provided many levels of giving that can fit anyone’s budget—anyone. It may mean replacing something you do with your family for a night but the feeling of contribution should result in a much better feeling for you and your family. Here are the different levels of support we offer on our website—please make a commitment today and choose to get involved. Help us make a difference:

9/11 WALL: Add your name for as little as $9.11 or 3X that to add your web link with your name

Fully Involved Comedy Tour with Ralphie May & Mike Lombardi: Buy a ticket or two. If you can’t make it, gift it to a friend that can.

9/11 Patches & Decals: Outfit your entire organization with them—make it your organizations promise to never forget.

Life Time Sponsor: It’s the cheapest sponsorship on the block and it gives your company/organization tremendous bang for your buck. Most important--you make a very visible commitment of support everywhere we go!

On behalf of the Feal Good Foundation, the Terry Farrell Fund, the NYC Bravest Scholarship Fund and the 9/11 Patch Project Fund, we thank you in advance for stepping up and helping in any way that you can.

John Feal Steps up for Fully Involved Comedy Tour

John Feal- Founder, Feal Good Foundation

"Then John did something that blew me away. He asked what the largest sponsorship was and then committed to be the first to buy one. I quickly responded by saying, John, this is a fund raiser for the Feal Good Foundation...how can we take your sponsorship money?"

From injured demolition expert at Ground Zero, to activist and advocate for the 40,000 injured or sick that worked the pile at GZ. "No 1st Responders Left Behind," is the tag line of the Feal Good Foundation, created by John Feal in 2005. It's not just a catchy tag line but rather, it completely describes the lengths that the FGF went to in order to insure the Zadroga Bill passed though Congress and the Senate. And most recently, to insure 50 different cancers were covered under the bill.

As the founder of one of our nation's 9/11 Projects, I met John over two years ago--during the heat of the battle. With the purpose of the 9/11 Patch Project to remember the hero's of 9/11 and raise funds for 9/11 related charities, it was a no  brainer to add the FGF to our short donor list. Although we have raised only a drop in the bucket for his foundation, we recently teamed up with Firehouse Expo to bring a night of comedy and rock to their three national Expo's (Baltimore, New Orleans and San Diego) with our main purpose to raise funds for the Feal Good Foundation and two other 9/11 charities.

I spoke to John a couple of days ago to catch up. We talked about the show and some of the difficulties in getting companies to come forward. Many were opting out due everything from the economy to concerns over the image of their company. Then John did something that blew me away. He asked what the largest sponsorship was and then committed to be the first to buy one. I quickly responded by saying, "John, this is a fund raiser for the Feal Good Foundation...how can we take your sponsorship money?"

John is very straight forward and always means what he says. He has already proven by his actions these past 7 years that if he is going to do something...no one can stop him! So, reluctantly I agreed but with the goals to multiply his money and give it right back during the show in Baltimore. I truly want to do that for him and the great work he has done all these years.

Question is, if John will step up and make such a large commitment to an event that is for his Feal Good Foundation, who else out there will step up and follow his lead? Ticketed events with headliner comedians like Ralphie May and hosts like Rescue Me's Mike Lombardi, should have no problem selling out. What company would not want to put their name with such a great event that will potentially raise thousands for great organizations like John's, the NYC Bravest Scholarship Fund and the Terry Farrell Fund?

John is a remarkable man but he is not wealthy. For him, it is about principal and spending money where he feels it is needed. He stepped up when others wouldn't because he felt it was the right thing to do and that is his character. Who else out there will step up and help make sure this fund raising event is as much a success as it needs to be?

My challenge to all exhibitors at the Firehouse Expo or any companies in Baltimore, is to step up and be counted. Most of you will get tickets for this show as it is also the official entertainment for the event--you will most likely be going anyway. Maybe it is unrealistic for some of you to come up with the bucks that John did, but you can afford to be one of our $911 Lifetime Sponsors. Nothing would make me happier than to turn around and multiply John's gift during our event in Baltimore. And nothing would make John, myself and the others that are working to make this event a huge success, more proud, than to look out and see the logos of companies that stepped up, printed on huge banners hanging near the stage.

 Exhibitors and companies of Baltimore...it's your move!

Comedian Ralphie May Comes to Baltimore to Benefit 9/11 Charities

Ralphie May- Headliner

Comedy Central sensation and one of the top new comedians to watch, Ralphie May, will star with Rescue Me's Mike "Probie" Lombardi, in a night of comedy and rock that will raise funds for (4) 9/11 related charities.

The "Fully Involved Comedy/Rock Tour," event is co-produced by Firehouse Expo and the 9/11 Patch Project and will be at the Baltimore Convention Center on July 19th, with doors opening at 6:30p. Also, Mike Lombardi will be the host and his band will also play during the evening. Click HERE to listen to a message from Mike about the event.

This special fund raising event will benefit the NYC Bravest Scholarship Fund, the Terry Farrell Fund, the Feal Good Foundation and the 9/11 Patch Project Fund.

This event is Baltimore is also open to the public and we'd like to invite all folks who will be in the Baltimore area or attending the Firehouse Expo to come out and be part of this great night with us!

Table sponsorships and other sponsor opportunities are available by contacting our Rob Kaiser (Dir. of Events and Marketing for the 9/11 Patch Project).

Ann Arundel County Firefighters Place Seal on 9/11 Bus

The week of August 1st started out great for the 10 yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Bus Tour. It was one of the busiest in the 6 month history of the national tour with a stop July 31st with Washington D.C. Firefighters, August 1st with Alexandria Firefighters, August 2nd with Northrop Grumman and Baltimore Firefighters and then, Ann Arundel County, the morning of the 3rd. And they were ready for us!

The photo is of Lt. Brandon Hiller of the Ann Arundel County Firefighters Association affixing their seal to the 9/11 Bus. Even before the bus arrived, and with just days to plan, the firefighters had already decided they would be ready with a check to present for the donation to get their seal on the bus. They even had their County Executive, John Leopold on hand for a speech. The day with Ann Arundel County representatives was one of the best welcomes the 9/11 Bus has had.

With 3 weeks still away from the 10th Anniversary of 9/11, it is the 9/11 Patch Project's hope that the bus will be covered with the seals of other supporters, both on the tour route and anyone else that wants to have their name or seal carried into Manhattan, September 7th. We want as many people and organizations out there to be counted among the nation's supporters when we arrive to visit with the FDNY, our three charities and other New Yorkers.

Right now, there is a great opportunity for anyone to get their name in the reflective stripe that surrounds the bus for only $100. The lettering will be reflective gold and each letter, 2" tall. So even as the bus travels down the road at night, all the names will be visible.

Logo's or "Seals," can still go on the bus for $911.11. There is plenty of space next to recent Platinum Sponsors; Ann Arundel County (MD), Chicago (IL), Rockford(IL), Philadelphia(PA), Carteret (NJ) and Northrop Grumman. You can go HERE to get it done today.

10 Yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Tour Builds Momentum on East Coast

Washington D.C. Firefighters met with the 9/11 Bus Tour on July 31st and kicked off one of the busiest weeks for the 10 Yr 9/11 Manhattan to Manhattan Tour since leaving Manhattan Beach (CA) on January 25th of this year.

The bus was then greeted by the Alexandria Firefighters on Monday August 1st, Northrup Grumman & Baltimore Firefighters on the 2nd, Ann Arundel County Firefighters on the 3rd, in the morning, and then Arlington Firefighters on the same day, in the afternoon.

All hosting agencies greeted the 9/11 Bus with enthusiasm and plenty of visitors. Sales of the fund raising 9/11 Patches and Decals were among the best recorded at Northrop Grumman's Electronics plant near Baltimore. Out of the visits for the week, Northrop Grumman, both Baltimore Fire unions and Ann Arundel County Firefighters, became sponsors by getting their logo's on the bus.

Ann Arundel County even had a surprise ceremony for the bus when it rolled in, including their county seal waiting to be placed on the bus. In the picture to the right, the Ann Arundel County Firefighters seal can be seen on the bus next to New Jersey's Carteret Firefighters and Philadelphia Firefighters IAFF Local 22. All the organizations that got on the bus, did so after a donation each, of $911.11 (the amount commensurate with the 10 Yr Anniversary of 9/11).

In addition to the fellowship, sharing stories, fund raising, and group photo's with the bus, the organizations getting their names and logo's on the bus, will ride with the bus the rest of the tour and roll into Manhattan around September 7th, to participate in 10 Yr 9/11 Anniversary ceremonies. It is a great opportunity for those that hosted tour stops and those who just wanted to be counted among the supporters of this historical journey, as the tour spends time in Manhattan with the FDNY and other New Yorkers.

More information about the national tour, getting the fund raising patches and getting on the bus, can be see here: 9/11 Patch Project website