By Rich Bockmann
The Douglaston Fairway raised more than $6,500 last Thursday in donations to a scholarship fund established for the daughters of fallen NYPD Detective Peter Figoski, who was killed in the line of duty Dec. 12.
“We’ve had a longstanding history of making sure we support those who serve our city — especially the NYPD and the FDNY,” Fairway Vice President Dan Glickberg said. “A lot of them tend to be customers of ours as well.”
The company announced to shoppers that 10 percent of the Jan. 5 sales between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. from its Douglaston, Red Hook, Brooklyn and Plainview, L.I., stores would be donated to the fund, and Glickberg said the combined total was about $20,000.
“We felt a duty to step in any way we could,” he said. “We definitely want to thank all of our customers for participating. What I think is neat and nice about this type of donation is not only do we feel like Fairway is donating, but it also feels like our customers are participating as well.”
After Figoski was killed while aiding colleagues responding to a home invasion in Brooklyn, the New York Police Foundation set up a scholarship fund for his four daughters: Christine, an undergraduate at SUNY Oneonta; Caitlyn, an undergraduate at SUNY Plattsburgh; and Carolyn and Corinne, both high school students in West Babylon, L.I.
“Obviously, we’re keeping all of them in our thoughts and prayers and we hope they can deal with this unfortunate and devastating occurrence in the best way possible,” Glickberg said.
Fairway also holds an annual fund-raiser for the FDNY each year, when it donates 10 percent of a night’s sales to support a firefighters cook-off.
Glickberg said a majority of the company’s stores participate in the spring event, and that the Douglaston location would be one of them this year.
“For the most part we have a great relationship with our local firehouses and police precincts, whether they come in for a daily cup of coffee or stop in for some kind of break,” he said.
At Figoski’s funeral Dec. 19, Mayor Michael Bloomberg posthumously promoted the officer to the rank of Detective First Grade.
Five men have been arrested and charged in connection with Figoski’s murder. The scholarship fund that bares his name has already received more than $2 million.
Donations to the fund can be made by mailing a check to Peter Figoski Scholarship Fund, c/o NY Police Foundation, 555 Fifth Ave., 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017 or by credit or debit card at nycpolicefoundation.org.
Reach reporter Rich Bockmann by e-mail at rbockmann@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4574.
