New York Guns and Hoses Event Raises $50,000 for Autism

Denis Leary (far left) and Retired Local 94 member Tim Dwyer (far right) at The ELIJA School.

January 30, 2009 – The Guns and Hoses 2 Comedy event held at the Jeanne Rimsky Theater in Port Washington, New York, raised $50,000 for The ELIJA School, a behavioral school for children with autism. The event was organized by Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) of New York Local 94 retired member Tim Dwyer and co-sponsored by the Local 94 Executive Board.

“Because of fundraisers like this one, my son and other autistic students are making progress,” says Dwyer. “The school receives some funding from the school district, but it relies heavily on donations and fundraisers for teacher salaries and other crucial resources.”

The sold-out event was hosted by Billy Bingo, a retired member of Local 94 and comedian, and headlined by comedian John Diresta. Attendees also enjoyed the comedy of Helen Hong and Chris Roach.

In addition to ticket sales, the event was also able to secure sizable donations, including contributions from the Local 94 Executive Board and comedian Denis Leary.

Leary had come under fire for saying what seemed to be some uninformed comments about autism.

“I sent Leary a letter educating him on autism and its challenges,” says Dwyer. “I was surprised when he personally called me and agreed to visit the school. He was so inspired by what he saw, he agreed to make a donation for this event and promised future support.”

Dwyer co-founded The ELIJA School in 2006 after he was unable to get adequate services for his now 10-year-old son, Colin, through the school district. The school is a private, non-profit school for children and young adults diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders. The school provides an individualized full-day 12-month program.