On behalf of Chairman Rusty Staub (New York Mets), Mark Messier (New York Rangers) and the members of the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund Board of Directors, please accept our sincere gratitude for considering a sponsorship for the charity event held at the 2010 Montauk Music Festival on May 15th.

The Montauk Music Festival is volunteer run, grassroots live music event designed to celebrate, support, and promote the thriving Montauk music scene while providing an opportunity for music lovers to support the good work and great cause of the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.  On Saturday, May 15th the charity will host an event at the Montauk Downs Golf Club which will bring musicians, music lovers, the Montauk community and people who appreciate the courage and sacrifice of firefighters and police officers.

As so many Police Officers and Fire Fighters have done before, you have an opportunity to answer an urgent call.  With the help of the Montauk Music Festival and people like you, the Benefit Fund is able to provide a network of support to the families of New York City Fire Fighters, Police Officers, Port Authority and EMS personnel who have been killed in the line of duty.  Your support allows the Benefit Fund to financially assist first responder families immediately after they suffer their loss, as well as, each year thereafter through baseball games, fishing trips and other family friendly events, like the Montauk Music Festival. The Benefit Fund feels as a community who depends greatly upon our Police and Fire Fighters, it is the least we can do in honoring the courage and selflessness of their loved ones. We are truly grateful for your shared concern for these families. 

Please note, more than 95 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to the families we assist. Thus your support not only helps raise significant funds for these deserving families, but more importantly, assures them there are people like yourself, who appreciate the supreme sacrifice made by their loved ones.

To help illustrate the mission, scope and depth of our charity, please visit our website www.answerthecall.org. Under “Families We’ve Touched” you will hear the personal stories of widows and children whose words will touch your heart. On our homepage, you will also find the charity’s Public Service Announcement, “The Call” featuring Harrison Ford.  All of this compelling material was created, produced and donated by people, like yourself, who appreciate the daily risk taken by New York's Bravest and Finest.  Clearly, ordinary people CAN do extraordinary things.