New York, NY - December 3, 2015 - The Mechanical Contractors Association of New York (MCA) announced it has raised $34,000 for the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation, which provides crucial support for research, education and prevention, as well as medical care, for burn victims.
At its November membership meeting, MCA President Michael Russo, Board member Timothy Bowe (a resident of Nissequogue - Smithtown) and Steamfittting Industry Promotion Fund Chairman James Botto (a resident of Hicksville) presented a check to the Foundation on behalf of MCA’s New York Fire Sprinkler Council, which was recently created to further spread awareness of the importance of fire suppression systems in saving lives and protecting property. “The work of the Foundation has significantly improved the lives of burn survivors and we are honored to support their efforts,” aid Bowe.
“When you find an organization like the Burn Center Foundation that does such incredible work and is so closely aligned with our industry’s mission, they become the obvious choice for our Association to give back to,” added Russo.
Fire sprinkler contractors have been raising funds for the Foundation since 2000, and total industry contributions have now reached more than $667,000. The MCA’s Steamfitting Industry Promotion Fund alone has contributed $147,500 over the past 16 years, in addition to annual donations by individual MCA members and suppliers.
The Burn Center Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the advancement of quality burn care, research, prevention and education. The primary beneficiary of the Foundation is the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center’s William Randolph Hearst Burn Center, the largest and busiest center of burn care in the nation.
During the MCA meeting, New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation Board members Firefighter Ralph Longo and Firefighter Andrew Marrotta gave a presentation about the outstanding work performed by both the Foundation and the staff of the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center. Following the presentation, nearly $5,000 additional funds were pledged by industry members in attendance.
Foundation Executive Director Gwen Curran; Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery and Director of the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center Dr. James Gallagher, MD, FACS; Burn Center Patient Care Director Jamie Heffernan and Research Nurse Angela Rabbit were also on hand to accept the donation.
The New York Fire Sprinkler Council (NYFSC) is a newly created division of the Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc. (MCA) dedicated to educating communities and public officials of the vital role of fire sprinklers in protecting lives and property. Its mission is to increase awareness about the lifesaving benefits of fire sprinklers and provide advice to public agencies on technical matters related to the installation, inspection, testing and maintenance of these systems.
The Mechanical Contractors Association of New York, Inc. (MCA) is an organization of the union Mechanical and Fire Sprinkler Contracting industry in New York City and Long Island. The MCA is designed to promote the welfare and development of the heating, piping, air conditioning and fire suppression industry. Since 1885, the MCA has provided a place for contractors to come together and assist each other in identifying emerging technologies, addressing labor issues effectively, and improving business practices.