Thursday, October 1, 2026
During the recent New York State Professional Firefighters Convention at Niagara Falls, the Long Beach Professional Firefighters Association (LBPFA) was awarded the Golden Boot from the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The award goes to the International Association of Firefighters local that raises the largest amount of funds for MDA in New York. Last year in Long Beach, IAFF local 287 raised over $30,000 to help fight muscle disease.
The MDA supports research to help find a cure for muscular dystrophy and provide much needed equipment for those affected. MDA is the world’s leading nonprofit health organization sponsoring research seeking the causes of and effective treatments for neuromuscular diseases. MDA research grants currently are supporting more than 250 projects worldwide. Including an MDA Summer Camp held this year at Wading River July 12.
Among the smallest of New York’s IAFF locals, the members were out raising money at a time when they were facing layoffs due to the city’s financial crisis. Down to 25 men, all members hit the streets in an effort to get out into the community and raise this money.
Four days spread between two weekends were dedicated to a “fill the boot” fund raising campaign. Members were out at the intersection of Park Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard asking commuters and beachgoers to place money in their boots. To help get the total dollar amount over the top, Charles “Moose” Gusler, with the help of George Gentilesco, organized two softball tournaments.
“This has been a very tough year for the residents of Long Beach,” the LBPFA said in a statement. “Despite the troubles the people have always been huge supporters of our cause. We get more and more money every year. The members of the LBPFA would like to thank the citizens, visitors and the business of Long Beach. We could not have done this without you.”
