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9/11 hero
After the terrorist attacks of September, 11th 2001, 34 year-old demolition supervisor John Feal joined the army of blue-collar workers converging on the smoldering wreckage of the World Trade Center for the largest recovery operation in American history. Feal, like countless others, raced into the toxic cloud at the ruins of the WTC, unknowingly inhaling a toxic stew of asbestos, dioxins, benzene, lead, mercury, powdered glass, and more than 2,000 other deadly toxins. On September 17, John was horribly injured when his foot was crushed by an eight-ton steel beam during the frenzied, dangerous cleanup.
Soon after 9/11, John Feal (a US Army veteran) started experiencing serious respiratory problems, a condition they now call "The World Trade Center Cough." He spent two months in the hospital while he battled with a host of health problems. Because of an arbitrary exclusion in the law, Feal, like many search and rescue workers who were injured during a two-week window at Ground Zero did not qualify for the 9/11 relief fund. Like thousands of others, John risked his own life to save others, but when he became sick and injured, he was abandoned and forgotten. Today, his organization, the FealGood Foundation, has grown into one of the most prominent advocate for 9/11 responders. Their fund raising efforts have helped countless families with financial and medical assistance.
On August 30, 2007, John Feal participated in a triple kidney transplant at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where his kidney was donated. On February 16, 2008, John Feal and his organization successfully hosted a fund raising event to raise awareness for the organ donation needs of the ailing 9/11 responders. In recognition for his work, John Feal was chosen by 107 living Congressional Honor recipients as the finalist from New York State to be the recipient of the Above and Beyond Citizen Honors for the year 2008. This is the highest civilian award presented by the 107 living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
Public Activism : Since 2003, John has acted as a leading advocate for 9/11 heroes who where denied both the benefits promised by the federal, state, local governmental and the charitable aid collected on their behalf. He has worked closely with all of New York’s state, local and federal representatives to help these men and woman. John spoke on the issue of 9/11 workers before a US Congressional committee in June 2005 and at numerous public gatherings alongside our nation’s top political leaders. John is also a former board member of Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, a not-for-profit raising awareness of the plight of 9/11 responders. In addition to assisting 9/11 workers as a whole, John has been active helping Ground Zero workers on an individual basis with administrative issues and by helping first responders get media coverage. Most notably, John was instrumental in lobbying Congress for the passage of the Walsh Amendment, which set aside $125 million of unspent 9/11 money in December 2005 to help New York State residents with current and future 9/11-related health expenses. While it will help cover medical screening and treatment, the money will only meet a fraction of the first responders' needs. Because of the massive needs still unmet, John continues to advocate for legislative action at all levels of the political spectrum.
On February 26, 2008, an important rally in Washington D.C. was jointly organized by FealGood Foundation and 9/11 Health Now, where John Feal shared the microphone along with the supporting members of Congress calling for the passage of the "James Zadroga Bill" (The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act) and to demand proper healthcare for 9/11 responders. John Feal and his supporters protested the proposed 77% budget cut for 9/11 Healthcare Funding.
Press Coverage : John Feal has been prominently featured in two documentaries: Robert Greenwald’s Sierra Club Chronicles http://www.sierraclub.org/tv/episode-911.asp
9/11 Forgotten Heroes and in Heidi Dehncke-Fisher’s Dust to Dust: The Health Effects of 9/11.
John has also been interviewed by CNN, Good Morning America, Fox Network, Star Jones, Win1010 News, News 12 Networks, Air America Radio, Nightline, NBC News, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Eyewitness News, the New York Daily News, the NY Post, New York Newsday, and countless other media in print and on the internet. John also received recognition by the movie director, Michael Moore, for his role in assisting the making of Michael Moore's acclaimed movie, the "Sicko".As one of the Ground Zero movement’s most passionate and informed spokespersons, he is highly sought after by the print and broadcast media.
http://www.fealgoodfoundation.com/WhoWeAre.html
http://www.fealgoodfoundation.com/BOD.html
Soon after 9/11, John Feal (a US Army veteran) started experiencing serious respiratory problems, a condition they now call "The World Trade Center Cough." He spent two months in the hospital while he battled with a host of health problems. Because of an arbitrary exclusion in the law, Feal, like many search and rescue workers who were injured during a two-week window at Ground Zero did not qualify for the 9/11 relief fund. Like thousands of others, John risked his own life to save others, but when he became sick and injured, he was abandoned and forgotten. Today, his organization, the FealGood Foundation, has grown into one of the most prominent advocate for 9/11 responders. Their fund raising efforts have helped countless families with financial and medical assistance.
On August 30, 2007, John Feal participated in a triple kidney transplant at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, where his kidney was donated. On February 16, 2008, John Feal and his organization successfully hosted a fund raising event to raise awareness for the organ donation needs of the ailing 9/11 responders. In recognition for his work, John Feal was chosen by 107 living Congressional Honor recipients as the finalist from New York State to be the recipient of the Above and Beyond Citizen Honors for the year 2008. This is the highest civilian award presented by the 107 living Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.
Public Activism : Since 2003, John has acted as a leading advocate for 9/11 heroes who where denied both the benefits promised by the federal, state, local governmental and the charitable aid collected on their behalf. He has worked closely with all of New York’s state, local and federal representatives to help these men and woman. John spoke on the issue of 9/11 workers before a US Congressional committee in June 2005 and at numerous public gatherings alongside our nation’s top political leaders. John is also a former board member of Unsung Heroes Helping Heroes, a not-for-profit raising awareness of the plight of 9/11 responders. In addition to assisting 9/11 workers as a whole, John has been active helping Ground Zero workers on an individual basis with administrative issues and by helping first responders get media coverage. Most notably, John was instrumental in lobbying Congress for the passage of the Walsh Amendment, which set aside $125 million of unspent 9/11 money in December 2005 to help New York State residents with current and future 9/11-related health expenses. While it will help cover medical screening and treatment, the money will only meet a fraction of the first responders' needs. Because of the massive needs still unmet, John continues to advocate for legislative action at all levels of the political spectrum.
On February 26, 2008, an important rally in Washington D.C. was jointly organized by FealGood Foundation and 9/11 Health Now, where John Feal shared the microphone along with the supporting members of Congress calling for the passage of the "James Zadroga Bill" (The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act) and to demand proper healthcare for 9/11 responders. John Feal and his supporters protested the proposed 77% budget cut for 9/11 Healthcare Funding.
Press Coverage : John Feal has been prominently featured in two documentaries: Robert Greenwald’s Sierra Club Chronicles http://www.sierraclub.org/tv/episode-911.asp
9/11 Forgotten Heroes and in Heidi Dehncke-Fisher’s Dust to Dust: The Health Effects of 9/11.
John has also been interviewed by CNN, Good Morning America, Fox Network, Star Jones, Win1010 News, News 12 Networks, Air America Radio, Nightline, NBC News, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Eyewitness News, the New York Daily News, the NY Post, New York Newsday, and countless other media in print and on the internet. John also received recognition by the movie director, Michael Moore, for his role in assisting the making of Michael Moore's acclaimed movie, the "Sicko".As one of the Ground Zero movement’s most passionate and informed spokespersons, he is highly sought after by the print and broadcast media.
http://www.fealgoodfoundation.com/WhoWeAre.html
http://www.fealgoodfoundation.com/BOD.html
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Melissa L. on
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The Feal Good Foundation ("FGF") has had a tremendous year to date, and its only getting better! In March and April the FGF chartered two busses to go to Washington D.C. to show support for the James Zadroga Act, H.R. 847. Congressional leaders were impressed with the First Responder Community's' commitment to seeing that their rights be enforced and that health care be afforded to all those that were adversely impacted by the environmental irritants that existed at Ground Zero following the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001.
While keeping an eye on Washington, the Feal Good Foundation has continued to assist First Responders with their personal and financial needs, donating both money and services to needy men and women. Recently, the FGF donated to, and attended. The F.D.N.Y.'s tremendous event for fireman John McNamara, a responder who developed Stage IV cancer following his heroic efforts at the World Trade Center site. The outpouring of support for "Johnny Mac" by his fellow firefighters was truly inspiring.
The FGF's 2009 efforts are only beginning!! On September 11, 2009 the FGF, in conjunction with the Spano Family Charitable Foundation and Peter Grandich, will be hosting its Inaugural Charity Gala, an intimate evening on behalf of First Responders at the Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, N.J. All money raised at the event will go directly to the FGF so that it may continue to assist First Responders around the country in their times of need.
I hope that you will be able to attend this special event, ticket information can be obtained by visiting the gala website at www.fealgoodcharityball.com or by calling the Feal Good Foundation directly, at (631) 724-3320. If you are not able to attend, but wish to sponsor or donate to the event please do not hesitate to contact me at the above number, or by emailing Feal13@aol.com.
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This taken from my facebook page about a 9/11 hero.We can help save his home if we open our hearts and take a moment to help. I believe he is deserving of a Extreme Makeover home but just a little help will be suffice from a few good and generous people.
Charlie Giles needs help to live in his apartment until he recieves his compensation in a couple of months. American people and those around the world show your spirit and help this 9/11 hero out. Hip & knee replacement on top of lung and heart illnesses from his heroic actions at ground zero. He is being evicted from his apartment after loosing his house 2 years ago to foreclosure,so lets all chip in and save a HERO!!!
www.fealgoodfoundation.com
I don't know Charlie but I bet he is an average guy who did the right thing along with so many others and now he needs help. We all need help these days- some more than others. If anybody knows how to help this family please reach out to them, Thank you.
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Permalink Reply by Robin Inman on
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What an inspirational man and story.....one could look at this story and just see bureaucratic disgust (which there is lots of!!!) or we could look at it more optimism and see a real hero who not only at his own personal disregard ran straight toward a disaster to help out where needed and himself became a victim. Who then would not allow himself to wallow in self pity but started helping and advocating for other 9/11 victims who for reasons unknown were not seen as the hero's that they were and given the help they deserved. This man, this true hero keeps giving of his time and himself is a true picture of what we ourselves should strive to be...a true hero who is in this world not for himself but to help others (in my view that pretty much describes most firemen, policemen and soldiers that I know...with of course the exception of the few bad apples that are always out there). Please go on to his fealgoodfoundation website and help where you can, I know I'm going to. So many times in this world people have begun to look out only for themselves and to heck with everyone else.....we need to get back to a place where we all help and look out for each other because we are all in the world together, so lets start acting like it. Take care and stay safe my brothers, sisters and friends.
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Wow. Well Said. Straight from the heart. : )
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