KATHRYN DONOHUE

Appointed by Commissioner Howard Safir and sworn in by Mayor Giuliani as an Honorary New York City Fire Commissioner, Kathryn Donohue served as the chair and the Executive Director of the FDNY Fire Safety Education Fund, Inc., Assistant Director of the Fire Department Institute, Inc., and Fire Department Museum Board of Trustees member. She works closely with Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, promoting fire safety education programs in an effort to reduce the number of fire related injuries and fatalities in New York City. Donohue is the only civilian ever to be inducted into the Fire Department Honor Legion – an honor reserved for firefighters who have saved a life in the line of duty.

Donohue has produced the Fire Commissioner’s Humanitarian Awards Dinner since 1995. The proceeds of these charitable events benefit fire safety education programs within the New York City fire department. Her most recent accomplishment is the FDNY Fire Zone, an interactive fire safety learning center for children and adults located in Rockefeller Center. It opened during Fire Prevention Week 2000. Donohue spearheaded the drive to raise $2.5 million from private donors.

Donohue has been recognized for her production of the 1996 FDNY Firefighters Calendar on local TV channels 1, 5, 7, 9, 11 and nationally on the Today Show and Montel Williams Show. The proceeds from these projects benefit the FDNY Fire Safety Education Fund, Inc., the New York Firefighter’s Burn Center Foundation, the Uniformed Firefighter’s Association Widow’s and Children’s Fund, and the Fire Department Institute, Inc.

Recently appointed to the board of the New York City Police Museum, Donohue is responsible for procuring capital requirements, and developing and implementing the marketing and management plan. A life member of the Benefit Committee of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, Donohue served as an Honorary Vice-Chairman of the 1996 Intrepid Salute to Freedom Award Dinner honoring General Colin L. Powell, and in 1993 honoring President Ronald Reagan.

Donohue also serves as Honorary Trustee on the boards of the Friends of the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation and the Federal Drug Agents Foundation. Donohue is member of the Sheriff’s Jury, the Sky Club, and the Friar’s Club, and was recently honored with the Mayor’s Award for Volunteers to City Agencies.