By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
Adam Rand, of Bellmore, was a 31-year-old New York City firefighter with Squad 288 in Maspeth, Queens. He also served as a Bellmore Fire Department volunteer. He died when responding to the World Trade Center disaster.
Pall immediately formed a connection with Adam Rand's parents following the auction. "After meeting with the Rand family, I totally clicked with Mary Ann and Jim Rand," she said.
Mary Ann Rand asked that money raised at the auction go to buy holiday toys for children who lost their firefighter dads on Sept. 11. From that one request, Adam's Angels was born.
Adam's Angels started as a Web site connecting people who want to help with families of firefighters who died in the Sept. 11 attacks. The site has since grown to assist other families hurt by the tragedy. Those wanting to help are matched with a family and given the first name of the surviving spouse and names and ages of children.
Pall said, "Once we match somebody, we send a post card to the firehouse that there's stuff coming in and to give it to the family."
The local fire department in the family's area, even if the victim was not a firefighter, acts as a liaison between the victim's family and the donor. Important to note is that Adam's Angels accepts no monetary donations.
Over time, the Web site's mission has continued to expand. Pall said, "In April, we decided to have a family support group. It's an online forum for 9/11 families only." The site, Pall noted, is open to extended family members.
Adam's Angels also features a message board where survivors can correspond with one another. "On Sundays, I send a newsletter to everyone on there," said Pall.
Adam's Angels treats families to weekends away at vacation destinations within driving distance. Pall has spent this summer calling amusement parks, hotels and restaurants seeking donated vouchers for goods and services. "We do everything on a shoe-string budget," said Pall.
Adam's Angels also directs people to other Sept. 11-related Web sites and lists reputable, charitable organizations helping disaster victims.
Pall began Adam's Angels with a free Web site on Yahoo, but since the site has grown, she has enlisted help. One of those helpers, Pall said, is "my friend Shelley who lives in California. She's basically the West Coast coordinator. She did our entire data base of 9/11, over 3,000 names, and she matches them for me."
Shelley Arellano is a teacher, Pall said. Instead of working
summer school, she devoted her summer to Adam's Angels.
Vinny Petrocelli runs the Adam's Angels Web site. He also runs www.bravestmemorial.com, where one may set up a tribute page for free.
Pall, 25, graduated from Calhoun High School in Merrick and SUNY Brockport. She's now between jobs, but has worked in public relations, media relations and marketing promotions for sports teams such as the New York Knicks and Miami Heat. She's also worked for non-profit organizations.
For those individuals or businesses that want to learn more about Adam's Angels and how they can help, or for surviving family members that want to see what help is available, log onto www.adamsangels.org.
Remembering Sept. 11
For additional Sept. 11 coverage, see the Herald's special section, In Memoriam, starting page 15:
