THE JESSE GERHARD MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
His kindness.
Our purpose.
Jesse believed in leaving people and places better than he found them. We carry that belief forward—by showing up, bringing people together, and helping when it matters most.
From heartbreak came a purpose.
In 2022, we lost Jesse—and with him, a piece of our hearts that could never be replaced. In the depths of that loss, we found a purpose: to keep his legacy alive by continuing the work that meant so much to him. Helping others. Leaving people and places better than he found them.
What began as a golf outing—a gathering of friends and family to remember someone we loved—quickly became something much bigger. The Jesse Gerhard Memorial Foundation was born: a 501(c)(3) charity established in Jesse’s honor to stand beside first responders and their families during their darkest days.
As time passed, Jesse’s presence continued to bring people together. His story reached new hearts, our community grew, and so did the work we could do in his name.
donated to the first responder community in our first five years.
Behind every dollar is someone who showed up for Jesse—and someone we can now show up for because of them. We cannot fill the space he left behind. But together, we can keep his kindness moving forward.
For those who serve
Through direct donations, we support active first responders, spouses, and children facing loss, medical hardships, and other difficult moments.
For our community
We help local families whose lives have been changed by tragic events, including house fires. Through partnerships and donations to other foundations doing meaningful work, we extend that support and carry Jesse’s legacy even further.
HONORS & EXPERIENCES
A legacy reaching new hearts.
The work done in Jesse’s name has opened doors we never could have imagined. Each opportunity has brought new people into our foundation family and given us another way to share his story.
Islip’s first Irish Day parade
We were honored to serve as Grand Marshal of the first annual Irish Day parade in Jesse’s hometown of Islip. To be embraced by the community where his story began made the recognition especially meaningful.
Johnny Mac Foundation
Being named the Johnny Mac Foundation Gala Honoree of the Year was a deeply meaningful recognition of the work being carried forward in Jesse’s honor—and of the community that makes it possible.
Standing side by side with 34.3
One of our foundation’s proudest moments each year is standing beside Jesse’s Big House brother, Etan Blatt, and fellow members of The Big House and the FDNY as we journey from Long Beach, New York, to Ground Zero with the 34.3 Foundation. Together, we honor the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Etan and the 34.3 Foundation’s commitment keeps their sacrifice, their stories, and the legacy they left behind alive. It connects those who were there, those who lived through that day, and the next generation of heroes who put on that same bunker gear every day.
For us, this journey is a promise to remember, to support one another, and to carry their legacy forward. The Jesse Gerhard Memorial Foundation has stood—and will forever stand—side by side with the 34.3 Foundation and The Big House.
Three races. One unforgettable tribute.
One of our most exciting experiences was this year’s partnership with Harrison Burton and Sam Hunt Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Jesse’s name and foundation logo took center stage on a race car at Talladega, Nashville, and Charlotte.
That incredible opportunity was made possible by Bulovas Restoration. What began as a friendship has become family, and their crew helped bring Jesse’s legacy to a stage we once could only have dreamed of.
These honors, along with countless other moments of recognition and support, mean so much more than an award or a place in a parade. They give Jesse’s name another voice, his story another audience, and his legacy another way to live on.
MORE THAN EVENTS. SHARED PURPOSE.
Moments that bring us together.
The annual golf outing
A day of friendship, remembrance, and generosity. Our golf outings bring supporters, families, and first responders together to celebrate Jesse and raise funds that carry his work forward.
Experience the outings →
Legacy of the Fallen
From Talladega to Nashville and Charlotte, our NASCAR tributes bring remembrance to the racetrack—honoring Jesse and the firefighters whose names and sacrifices must never be forgotten.
See the NASCAR journey →Help us keep Jesse helping others.
Whether you attend an outing, wear the foundation’s merchandise, become a sponsor, or share Jesse’s story, you become part of the work that continues in his name.