There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Garden City (NY) resident Daniella Giammona was officially accepted to Quinnipiac University at Answer the Call–New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund’s 31st Annual Gala.
Giammona was only two when her father FDNY Captain Vincent Giammona was killed on 9/11. She spoke lovingly about him during the Gala program, and about the bond her family has developed with Answer the Call over the last 15 years. After her speech–and unbeknownst to Daniella and her family– a representative from Quinnipiac University told her and the 800-guests in attendance that she was officially accepted as the 1st Student of the Class of 2021. Daniella applied for early decision and Answer the Call coordinated with Quinnipiac on magical reveal.
“I was in shock, surprised and excited all at the same time,” said Daniella Giammona, beneficiary of Answer the Call. “When Rusty [Staub] announced that they had a surprise for me, I never imagined it would be my acceptance to Quinnipiac, and it became the greatest surprise in my life!”
To watch Daniella’s speech, including the surprise beginning at 5:00 minute mark, see the video below.
The event, which took place at Cipriani Wall Street, raised $2.3 million for the families of fallen NYC Firefighters, Police Officers and EMS Personnel and comes at a time when New York has experienced devastating losses with the death of FDNY Deputy Chief Michael Fahy. Among the hundreds of civic and business leaders in attendance at the event were Former NY Met and Founder of Answer the Call, Rusty Staub, Hockey Hall of Famer, Former New York Ranger, and Answer the Call’s VP of Community Affairs Mark Messier, “Boardwalk Empire” and “Jersey Boys” Actor Vincent Piazza, New York Red Bulls Players Ryan Meara, and leaders from NYPD, FDNY and Port Authority Police Department.
For more information visit www.answerthecall.org.
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