Millstone businessman supports 9/11 workers
Peter Grandich urges community to help sick, dying responders

MILLSTONE - Around the holidays, it's not unusual for people to get the urge to give something to a worthy cause.

When Millstone Township's Peter Grandich took a few moments this holiday season to reflect on all he has been blessed with, he, too, felt the desire to help others who are less fortunate.

During his search to find a cause he could dedicate himself to, Grandich came across a group of people who gave of themselves to help others only to face sickness and death as a result - the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center first responders.

Grandich learned of their plight fromthe Long Island-based FealGood Foundation, and immediately wanted to help.

"It's an American tragedy that has gripped my heart," Grandich said. "Of the 40,000 people who responded to Ground Zero after the attacks, 70 percent, or 33,000, are sick or dying as a result of their service.

"We are talking about thousands of EMTs (emergency medical technicians), EMS (emergency medical service) workers, police, fire, military, construction workers and volunteers from all over the country who nowsuffer frombreathing and lung ailments, post-traumatic stress disorder, organ failure and other horrific physical andmental illnesses," he said.

Grandich pointed out thatmany of these first responders can no longer work, cannot pay medical bills, and are at risk of losing everything at a time when their primary concern should be staying alive.

John Feal, founder of the FealGood Foundation, said, "These people risked their lives without prejudice. There is no money in the world that is going to save their lives, butwe can give thema little compassion and respect. We give them a safety and support system and give them hope."

Feal is a 9/11 first responder.He is one of themany injured atwhat he calls "The Pile." Feal had to have a foot amputated and underwent months of therapy to recover from the ordeal. Like many 9/11 responders, he also suffers frombreathing ailments as a result of hiswork at the site and can no longer work.

Yet, in 2005, he started the FealGood Foundation to help those who are so much worse off than he is. Although he may no longer be able to work a job, Feal has made it his daily duty to help other survivors and to advocate on their behalf.He even donated a kidney to another first responder- aman he had never met - whose kidneys failed because of his 9/11 service.

"In 2001, on Sept. 11, everybody was patriotic and everybody wanted to help," Feal said. "You don't need a plane to hit a building to be compassionate."

Grandich, the founder of Trinity Financial, Sports and Entertainment Management, Wall Township, has committed to putting his efforts and resources behind Feal's group.

"As an American and a native New Yorker, I'm extremely upset that the true heroes of America's greatest single tragedy are being totally discarded and left to literally die," Grandich said. "And, despite this truly appalling occurrence, not one of them has been known to say if they had to do it all over again, theywouldn't. That's beyond any call of duty and deserving of every American's immediate attention and help."

Grandich hasmade a donation to the organization and has also spent the past several weeks recruiting friends and business associates to join him, including several athletes who are on his company's advisory board.

"Trinity Financial has two separate divisions - one that assists the average American and one to serve the unique needs of professional athletes," he said. "So, we have been blessed to havemany athletes associated with the firm, and each of those men is happy to help the FealGood Foundation in whatever ways they can."

Former New York Jets defensive lineman Joe Klecko said people usually look up to football players and call them heroes.

"We're not heroes," he said. "The real heroes are the men and women who spent months sifting through the rubble to find survivors and victims. The real heroes are the police and fire and military who put their lives on the line for our safety every day. We owe them a debt of gratitude and I am happy to lend my name to the effort."

Anothermember of Grandich's advisory board who has pledged to support FealGood is Lee Rouson, a member of the New York Giants two Super Bowl championship teams.

"Helping others was a major focus from day one at Trinity Financial," said Rouson, who co-founded the companywithGrandich. "The Bible tells us 'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.' The 9/11 responders have done so and are deserving of our government and its people to help themnowfor helping us in our time of need."

Grandich said he hopes stirring up support for Feal's nonprofit will convince more people to step forward for the 9/11 responders with donations of money, Christmas toys, pro bono services and organ donations.

"They helped America without even questioning if it was in their best interest," Grandich said. "Nowit's time forAmerica to help them."

Those who would like to help the Feal- Good Foundation may send donations to FealGood Foundation, 144 Shenandoah Blvd., Nesconset, NY 11767.

To learn more about the organization, visit www.FealGoodFoundation.com.

For more information, contact Peter Grandich at (732) 642-3992 or e-mail him through at www.TrinityFSEM.com.