what we do
Who we are and
About Us
The Albany Firefighters Cancer and Disability Foundation (AFCDF) exists to support firefighters, their families, and members of our community when cancer, serious illness, disability, or other life-changing circumstances create a need.
At its core, AFCDF is about taking care of people. The fire service has always been built around looking out for one another, and the Foundation carries that same commitment beyond the firehouse. When someone in our community is facing a difficult time, we want them to know they are not facing it alone.
Through charitable giving, fundraising, community partnerships, and the support of Albany firefighters and those who stand behind them, AFCDF provides meaningful assistance where it can make a difference. Sometimes that means helping with a financial burden. Other times, it simply means showing someone that their brothers, sisters, friends, and community are behind them.
Our mission continues to grow, but the principle behind it remains simple: take care of our own, support our community, and be there when it matters.
Our History
The Albany Firefighters Cancer and Disability Foundation was created by members of the Albany Fire Department who saw firsthand the impact that cancer, serious illness, and disability can have on firefighters and their families.
Firefighters spend their careers responding when others need help, but when one of our own becomes sick or faces a life-changing hardship, the need for support does not stop when the emergency is over. AFCDF was established to turn the tradition of firefighters helping firefighters into something lasting and organized.
What began as an effort to support members of the Albany fire service has grown into a broader commitment to the community we serve. Over the years, the Foundation has brought firefighters, families, local businesses, organizations, and community members together to raise funds and provide assistance to people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
AFCDF remains firefighter-led and rooted in Albany. As the Foundation has grown, so has our ability to help, but we have never lost sight of why it began: when someone is going through a fight, we show up.