Last Year The Stoolies Raised $115K For The Family Of Fallen Firefighter Michael Davidson — Erika Read The Thank You Letter From His Wife At Our Year End Meeting
I've said it 6,000 times, so here is 6,001: this is why I — and every other person at Barstool — will always fight back with people taking shots at the Stoolies, whether they have 1 million followers or 1. They ALWAYS step up when it matters. When Michael Davidson was tragically killed last year fighting a fire in Harlem, Kevin put up a blog asking for donations for the family: Eileen Davidson and her 4 kids, all under the age of 7.
As if that wasn't enough, one of the kids was dealing with a mysterious lung illness (which Michael had taken months off of work to stay home and take care of her), and Eileen herself had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. This family, already dealing with the terror and uncertainty of 2 illnesses, lost a husband and a father overnight.
Obviously the Stoolies didn't need to hear more than "firefighter and father of 4 passes away" to start smashing their Venmos. But all of the circumstances around Eileen and the kids made this one closer to the heart for a lot of us at Barstool than others. Which is why it was so amazing to see the total rise and rise and rise. In the end Eileen and the 4 Davidson kids got a $115,000 check directly from Kev and the fucking awesome Barstool fans, to help with their expenses and to start rebuilding the life that has been so immensely unfair to them. That's why there wasn't a dry eye in the house at the company meeting yesterday and why we'll do the same thing the next time someone else needs help.
We already know we have the best fans in the world, and it's an awesome feeling hearing that Eileen Davidson knows that now too.
Thank you guys for everything you do and everything — and everyone — you support.
Here is the text in full:
Eleven months ago Kevin blogged about a young fireman from Woodside; a man who gave everything to his city; a man who left behind a wife and four babies who adored him. That man was my husband, Michael Davidson.
I’ll never forget how I felt when I read that post. Kevin’s appeal to all of you — an appeal to help our family — it moved me so deeply. And soon thousands of kind strangers were raising thousands of dollars for us. It felt so surreal. But it was a bright shining light in a world that was at that time enveloped in such darkness.
You know, the truth is Michael would probably be mortified receiving all the praise and love and support he has in the last eleven months. He was a humble man who loved his job and lived with such passion. His passion is what I first fell in love with years ago. He was the type of guy who would give you the shirt off his back without question, without hesitation. He didn’t do it for the notoriety or the glory. He’d do it because he wanted to. He’d do it because it was the right thing to do.
The running joke in our family and circle of friends is that if you received a phone call from Michael or me within the last eight years, you braced yourself for either a pregnancy announcement or a “we’re moving!” announcement. I mean, in our defense, the whole four kids in six years thing kinda shakes everything up a bit…so we had to make moves!
We finally bought our forever home in 2015, an old colonial that we knew was going to be a labor of love. But we were excited. We couldn’t wait to restore this house to its former glory. To see our visions come to life.
Well — we’ve been here three and a half years now: but during that time we had our fourth baby who was born with an uncertain and scary medical condition. Then we faced my breast cancer diagnosis. We were juggling our jobs. We found ourselves trying to keep up in that hamster wheel we all too often find ourselves in — especially here in NY. We had big plans for life, but life just seemed to keep happening in ways we never anticipated. And then it was March 23, 2018. The kids and I kissed Michael goodbye. We told him we loved him. And we never got to see him again.
If I could put into words how proud I am of Michael not only for what and who he served, but also for how he provided for and cared for and hustled for us, this would be the place to do it. But I can’t seem to find the right words. And so all I can do is thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for what you did for us — for honoring Michael in such a way. Because of your kindness and generosity, I was able to fix things in our home that worried Michael and me. I was able to make sure our home was safe and functional in ways that it wasn’t before. I was able to give the kids fun, new spaces in their bedrooms. And I will be able to continue to fix things throughout the home this year. I can rest a little easier at night knowing that my home is going to be safe for years to come, as I continue to raise our babies the way Michael and I would have together.
So, Kevin, Stoolies: please know that you gave a great man — a man who lived for his family — an incredible gift that would bring him to tears. Please continue to honor and respect and remember our Michael. Please, always remember what all of our first responders do for us — and the sacrifices that their families make too. The commitment, the passion, the selflessness and the dedication: this is what will forever define Michael’s legacy, and, although it is a heavy honor to bear, my children will always know their daddy was an incredible hero.
With Love & Appreciation,
Eileen Davidson