Local School Honored with Award

FDNY Foundation Honors Local School with Fire Safety Education Award

The FDNY Foundation is proud to honor Public School Q222 with this year’s Chief William M. Feehan Fire Safety Education Award. The award is given annually to a New York City school that demonstrates ongoing commitment to fire safety education.

One school in Queens has found a creative way to help students remember important fire safety takeaways – by turning them into artwork. For the past several years, the Firefighter Christopher A. Santora School – named in honor of an FDNY member killed on September 11, 2001 – has held an annual art show to help students get actively involved in Fire Prevention Month.

“Our Fire Safety Education Unit visits schools like this one and community centers across the city every year,” said FDNY Foundation Executive Director Jean O’Shea. “Last year they made more than 67 hundred presentations. We’re proud to help fund these efforts and help drive down the number of fire fatalities.”

PS Q222 has partnered with its local firehouse to judge which entries are most effective at disseminating fire safety message. Every student who participates is recognized in a school assembly.

Principal Yvonne Marrero has incorporated the entire Fire Prevention Month curriculum into the school’s dual-language program, which helps to educate children when they learn english.

“Having materials from FDNY available in a variety of languages is a terrific resource, especially for the diverse community we serve,” Principal Marrero says. “Our Fire Prevention program culminates with a fun and informative trip to the FDNY Fire Zone. The kids love it and learn a lot.”

The William M. Feehan Award is named in honor of FDNY Commissioner Feehan who had a life-long dedication to public service as a teacher and firefighter. William M. Feehan made the supreme sacrifice at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.