***MEDIA ADVISORY***

FIRE COMMISSIONER SALVATORE J. CASSANO HOSTS ANNUAL FDNY FOUNDATION HUMANITARIAN AWARDS DINNER

Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano will join the FDNY Foundation on Wednesday, April 4 at 6 p.m. at the New York Hilton, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, for their annual Humanitarian Awards dinner to honor those who have provided overwhelming support to the New York City Fire Department over the course of their distinguished careers.

This year's honoree is Jonathan (Jody) Durst, President of the Durst Organization. Jody Durst oversees the management and operations of fifteen million square feet of office and residential space, in addition to leading the Durst Organization's development, management and leasing of One World Trade Center.

An FDNY Foundation Special Recognition Award will be presented to Congressman Peter King, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. Congressman King is currently serving his tenth term in the United States House of Representatives.

FOX 5 Good Day New York Anchor Rosanna Scotto will serve as the evening's Master of Ceremonies.

Established in 1981, the FDNY Foundation is the official non-profit organization of the Department that helps bring the vital message of fire safety and prevention to all New Yorkers. It also supports the life-saving work of the FDNY through various programs that provide new equipment, training and support for thousands of firefighters and members of the department's Emergency Medical Service.

In the last several years, thanks to the efforts of the FDNY Foundation, more than one million New Yorkers have received fire safety education and over 100,000 New Yorkers have received CPR training. Each year the FDNY Foundation helps distribute more than 100,000 batteries for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

***Photo-Op***

Press Contact: Francis X. Gribbon & Frank Dwyer, (FDNY) (718) 999-2056

http://www.nyc.gov/fdny