Four children and grandchildren of heroes threw out the first pitch at Wednesday’s Mets game — a feat one described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Hannah Cristiano, 7, Charli Scalf, 11 and siblings Jackson, 7, and Stella Abear, 5 — descendants of FDNY and NYPD members who laid out their lives for others — braved the rain and stormed the mound with Answer The Call associate committee members in celebration of the charity’s 40th anniversary
“It was so exciting to throw out that ball. I really couldn’t sleep last night, I was so excited,” said Jackson Abear, who boasted he needed no practice to be the only one of the four to “throw it perfectly to my guy.”
The opportunity was much more emotional for Catherine Abear, who lost her husband, NYPD Detective Raymond Abear, five years ago after he contracted Covid while visiting crime victims in hospitals during the early days of the pandemic.
“It’s bittersweet. It was really emotional and cool at the same time — Ray and I were both big Mets fans, so it’s quite cool to see them on the field. I’m raising them Mets fans!” said Abear, adding that she had to wipe away tears as she watched the pair relish in the moment.
The trio was among hundreds of other Answer The Call families who attended the foundation’s 40th anniversary of providing financial and community support to families whose loved ones gave their lives in service of the FDNY and NYPD.
More than 1,200 were originally slated to attend the annual event before it was moved up several hours to account for the poor weather sweeping the Big Apple.
But the rain couldn’t keep away Charli Scalf, who, along with her mother Taina, was honoring the memory of her father Detective Jeffrey Scalf.
Like Abear, the 14-year NYPD veteran died from the “invisible bullet” of the coronavirus as he worked through the early and uncertain days of the pandemic.
“It was really fun and exciting because I feel like it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Charli, who said her favorite part was meeting starting pitchers Clay Holmes and David Peterson — despite being a self-professed Yankee fan.
Taina Scalf said she went through multiple emotions throughout the day’s festivities, ranging from elation at watching her daughter to sadness that her husband was missing it, but was overall content that she was surrounded by other families who had gone through the same struggles.
“Answer The Call really cares, even though it’s five years later. It was five years ago, but it still feels like today to us,” she explained.
Little Hannah Cristiano donned a Mets dress and hair bows in honor of her mega Mets fan grandfather, Tommy Farino, who was one of the 343 FDNY members lost on 9/11.
Kieran Bellew, 20, and his mom Eileen sat below the massive scoreboard to watch the four kids storm the mound — a place he’d been before.
Kieran was just 4 years old when he threw out the first pitch in 2009, five years after his dad, FDNY Lt. John Bellow, was killed when he jumped out of a burning building in Brooklyn on Black Sunday.
“It’s funny because if they have the same perspective I did, it’s as though they’re players for the Mets, not just kids throwing out the first pitch,” said Kieran, adding that his father was a huge Mets fan.
“It’s very cool. It’s just like creating a whole new generation of fans … It’s like passing the torch.”
Missing the annual event was not an option for the Bellow family, according to Eileen: “Now that my kids are older, it’s on their calendar. They make sure that they come together and go.”
The organization, officially known as the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, was established in 1985 by Mets legend Daniel “Rusty” Staub, who was inspired after reading about a young NYPD who left his widow and three children behind after he was killed in the line of duty.
Since then, Answer The Call has provided over $180 million directly to more than 1,000 families. This year alone, the charity has distributed over $5.5 million to more than 500 families, with widows ranging in age from their 20s to their 90s.
Each family is provided with $50,000 typically within the first 24 hours of the tragedy, followed by an annual stipend of $11,000.
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