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NY POLICE AND FIRE WIDOWS' & CHILDREN'S BENEFIT FUND INC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133340675 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE P62Z · Human Services · Medium ($1M-$10M) · answerthecall.org
revenue
$6.5M
expenses
$7.6M
net assets
$59.8M
employees
6
volunteers
100
program ratio
80%
profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit providing lifelong financial and emotional support to families of fallen New York City police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and Port Authority personnel. Founded in 1985 by former baseball player Daniel "Rusty" Staub after learning of a line-of-duty death. The organization serves over 500 families and distributed more than $7.75 million in 2025.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

Annual Game and Family Day
Longstanding tradition offering a day of baseball and community for first responder families at Citi Field, originally started as a picnic at Shea Stadium
Red & Blue Soiree
Fundraising event organized by the Associate Committee to engage young professionals in support of the organization's mission
Team Answer the Call
Charity running program that supports participants in the NYC Half Marathon and TCS New York City Marathon to raise funds and awareness
activities · 4 groups

What they do

  • Community Recovery Awareness Events 1 activity
    • Hosting annual events and social gatherings for families of fallen first responders
      Organizes an annual "Game and Family Day" and other social gatherings to connect families of fallen first responders, provide emotional support, and foster community. Also hosts events for families and children of fallen 9/11 first responders to connect with donors and each other.
  • Organizational Sustainability Management 1 activity
    • Overseeing financial management and governance of the Benefit Fund
      Oversees management of organization-wide financial assets, reviews investment policies and strategies, monitors financial results and asset allocation, ensures internal controls and risk mitigation, and monitors financial statement integrity, accounting processes, regulatory compliance, and auditor performance.
  • Charity Event Organization 1 activity
    • Planning and executing fundraising events to support the organization’s mission
      Plans and executes fundraising events such as the Red & Blue Soiree for young professionals and an Annual Gala to honor leadership and commitment to the organization, ensuring continued financial support for families of fallen first responders.
  • Financial and Emotional Support for Bereaved Families 1 activity
    • Providing one-time and ongoing financial assistance to families of fallen first responders
      Provides a one-time $50,000 financial assistance payment to families following the death of a first responder and offers lifelong annual stipends to widows and widowers. In 2025, distributed over $7.75 million to support more than 500 families of fallen NYPD, FDNY, PAPD, and EMS personnel.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$6.53M
Contributions & grants$4.64M71%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.89M29%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$7.59M
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising9%
Salaries & benefits$857K
Grants paid out$6.08M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$59.88M
Cash$1.01M
Investments$57.64M
Liabilities$107K
Net assets$59.77M
Liquid reserves92.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +52.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
LAUREN F PROFETA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $323K
RACHEL TROTTA MACINA DIR. OF EVENTS & PARTNERSHIPS 40 $158K
LYDIA GRIFFIN DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 40 $140K
board members · 18
  • AISHA HAQUE — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANDREW SHAPIRO — BOARD MEMBER
  • BRIAN VESCIO — BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 12/2024)
  • CARRIE REILLY — BOARD MEMBER
  • DOTTIE MATTISON — BOARD MEMBER
  • EDWARD SKYLER — BOARD MEMBER
  • GERRY FLYNN — BOARD MEMBER
  • J KEVIN GILGAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHN Q DOYLE — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOHN W KEOGH — BOARD MEMBER
  • JOSEPH HASLIP — BOARD MEMBER (AS OF 05/2024)
  • KYLE N CRUZ — BOARD MEMBER
  • LAWRENCE MVD SCHLOSS — VICE CHAIRMAN
  • MARC ROSENBAUM ESQ — BOARD MEMBER (THRU 03/2024)
  • MARK DOUGLAS MESSIER — VP OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
  • MARTIN J GELLER — BOARD MEMBER
  • MICHAEL J AIELLO — BOARD MEMBER
  • PAUL AVERSANO — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Alvarez & Marsal LLC Partner — Organization where Managing Director Paul Aversano serves on the Audit Committee
  • Answer the Call Network — Associate Committee supports Answer the Call by planning fundraising events and connecting with young professionals.
  • Answer the Call Network — NY Police and Fire Widows' & Children's Benefit Fund operates as Answer the Call, providing support to families of 9/11 first responders.
  • FDNY Government — Families of fallen FDNY firefighters are primary beneficiaries of the organization's support programs.
  • FDNY Partner — FDNY is a department whose families are served and which advocates for the organization.
  • Fortress Investment Group Partner — Organization where Managing Director Steven Stuart serves on the Investment Committee
  • KKR Partner — Organization where CFO Robert Lewin serves on the Investment Committee
  • NYPD Government — Families of fallen NYPD officers are primary beneficiaries of the organization's support programs.
  • NYPD Partner — NYPD is a department whose families are served and which advocates for the organization.
  • Neuberger Berman Partner — Organization where Managing Director Aisha Haque serves on the Audit Committee
  • New York Mets Partner — Hosted the organization's annual picnic at Shea Stadium and later at Citi Field.
  • PAPD Partner — PAPD is a department whose families are served and which advocates for the organization.
  • Port Authority Police Department Government — Families of fallen Port Authority Police officers are primary beneficiaries of the organization's support programs.
  • PwC Partner — Organization where Partner Gerry Flynn serves as Chair of the Audit Committee
  • Taylor Swift Partner — Made a $2 million donation in honor of her wedding to support families of fallen NYC first responders.
  • Travis Kelce Partner — Made a $2 million donation in honor of his wedding to support families of fallen NYC first responders.
strategies · 1

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Comprehensive Family Support Model
    methodology: comprehensive_family_support
    By providing financial, emotional, and social support to families of fallen first responders, the organization addresses both material hardship and psychosocial trauma, because integrated and long-term care produces greater stability and resilience in bereaved families.