Our Reason for Being…

In Memory of Christopher, with Love

Following in the footsteps of his Firefighter father, Christopher Santora was a member of Engine 54/Ladder 4 for only 2 months before he lost his life tragically on 9/11. Before he signed up for the FDNY Fire Academy, he’d already followed in the footsteps of his mother as a teacher in the NYC Public School system. No grass grew under his feet, as they say. Christopher had a certain, special “something.”

In memory and celebration of Christopher and the special person he was, the Firefighter Christopher Santora Educational Scholarship Fund is dedicated to the continuing education of young American students from all walks of life who have something special about them as well.

We award scholarships not based on school grades, or recommendations, or academic successes. In fact, we never even know to whom we’re awarding the scholarships until we’ve determined the winners. So how do we pick our scholars?

2015 Guardian Angel Award

John Gleeson

Posted in the “Site News” section on June 12th, 2015

This year our Guardian Angel Award is being presented to someone who has helped the Christopher A. Santora Educational Scholarship Fund flourish. John Gleeson has been our friend and financial advisor for over 10 years. With his expertise, our Foundation is solvent. We have been able to continue our scholarship fund because of John’s great ability to advise us and guide us and make money for us!

We Remember

Posted in the “Books” section on June 4th, 2010

My third book, We Remember, is a special keepsake. When I decided to begin the project asking family members to write about their loved ones as they were growing up, I wanted to make sure that the families understood how important this legacy would be to future generations. It was a difficult request to ask parents and siblings to write about their sons and daughters and brothers and sisters. Putting into words what was important brought myriad emotions. I was aware that wounds would be opened, but I also knew that when the story was written all who participated would be glad that they had made the effort.

The Day the Towers Fell

Posted in the “Books” section on January 28th, 2009

“The Day the Towers” Fell was written to help explain what happened on September 11, 2001. This book tries to explain the horrors of 9/11 in a less graphic way. It was written with love by a 27–year NYC Public School teacher/childhood educator who is also the mother of one of the 343 Firefighters who lost their lives that day.

My Son Christopher

Posted in the “Books” section on January 27th, 2009

“My Son Christopher” is the story of a mother’s unconditional love for her son. “No matter what he ever did I loved him because he was my son,” the author, Maureen Crethan Santora, explains.

Written for the 5–8 year old age group, this is a book that seeks to nurture and reassure, something all of our children can use more of.

What’s New?

2015 Man of the Year

Sal Cassano, FDNY Commissioner (Ret)

Posted in the “Person of the Year” section on June 12th, 2015

Commissioner Salvatore Cassano has known Al for a very long time. Both worked in the FDNY. Although they never worked in the same firehouse, their paths crossed over the 40+ years that they were both in the department.

From our 9/11 Headlines Page…

Most Recent News Post:

Guantánamo judge bows to prosecution, reinstates joint 5-man 9/11 trial

An alleged terrorist will be tried with four others including Sept. 11 mastermind Ramzi bin al Shibh after a judge reversed course on his decision to split the five-man trial.

In this pool photo of a Pentagon-approved sketch by court artist Janet Hamlin, defendant Ramzi Bin al Shibh, center, attends his pretrial hearing along with other defendants at the Guantánamo Bay U.S. Naval Base in Cuba, Monday, April 14, 2014. From right to left are Mustafa al Hawsawi, partially cut off, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, Bin al Shibh, Walid bin Attash and Khalid Sheik Mohammad. JANET HAMLIN / ASSOCIATED PRESS

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- The military judge in charge of the 9/11 terrorism trial bowed to a Pentagon prosecution protest Wednesday and agreed to go forward with a single, five-man, Sept. 11 death-penalty tribunal.

The judge, Army Col. James L. Pohl, had separated alleged 9/11 plot deputy Ramzi bin al Shibh, 42, on July 24 to have his own trial. He cited bin al Shibh’s unique conflict-of-interest and competency issues as slowing progress in the trial of alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and three other accused co-conspirators.

But prosecutors protested, in part, by citing the potential trauma that two trials might inflict on the families of the 2,976 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, when 19 hijackers allegedly trained and funded by the five defendants crashed passenger planes into the Pentagon, the World Trade Center, and a Pennsylvania field.

From Our Books Section…

Dinner Dance

The Firefighter Christopher Santora Educational Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity and your contributions are tax-deductible.

The Firefighter Christopher Santora Educational Scholarship Fund Website

Our Reason for Being…

In Memory of Christopher, with Love

Featured Items

John Gleeson

What’s New?

Sal Cassano, FDNY Commissioner (Ret)

Most Recent News Post:

An alleged terrorist will be tried with four others including Sept. 11 mastermind Ramzi bin al Shibh after a judge reversed course on his decision to split the five-man trial.

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