Halesite Firefighter Raising Funds For Burn Center Through Book
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Stephen Medici, volunteer firefighter and EMT of the Halesite Fire Department, has donated 100 percent of the proceeds collected from his published books to worthy causes. Photos courtesy of Stephen Medici
By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Writing is a passion, not a profession for Stephen Medici, a volunteer firefighter and EMT with Halesite Fire Department. In light of that, with each book he has authored, Medici has donated proceeds to a worthy charity.
For his most recent book, “Wellington Redemption,” Medici will be donating 100 percent of the royalties to the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center Fund.
Medici decided to donate to the fund after he volunteered to be a liaison for the fire department.
“It’s an amazing organization and they’re doing amazing work that nobody knows about,” Medici, 65, of Halesite, said. “I thought it was a very worthwhile organization and I’m still involved in their meetings, and I’m the representative for Huntington.”
The mission of the fund is to support burn prevention and burn care throughout Suffolk by funding the burn center at Stony Brook University Medical Center, which is the only designated burn care facility for the more than 1.5 million residents in the county.
Medici said the only funding the burn center receives is through the volunteer firefighters burn center fund, which is funded by fundraisers hosted by the fire departments. He hopes the funds from his book will help in the centers mission.
“Wellington Redemption,” published in July, focuses on the life of a man who is dissatisfied with his life and decides to change his path by immersing himself in the world of equestrian show jumping.
Previous books Medici published are “A Walk Around Cold Spring Pond,” in 2011; “Adverse Selection” in 2012; and “The Girls in Pleated Skirts” in 2014. Proceeds from these novels have been donated to Harry Chapin Food Bank, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and The Fresh Air Fund respectively. His books span several genres, including mystery, crime and romance.
Based on the success of his previous books, Medici said he expects to raise between $5,000 and $10,000 for the burn center.
“I’ve been very lucky in my life and retired from the business world about 12 years ago, and I don’t need the money myself,” Medici said. “I write because it’s a passion, not a profession and so I try to do some good with it.
Medici has served with the Halesite Fire Department for six years. Before he joined up, and up until his retirement in 2005, he was the CEO of the Black Mountain Group in Manhattan.
He said his passion to be a fireman stuck with him throughout his life, and he made a promise to himself to become a firefighter when he retired.
Upon his retirement, Medici took up teaching business classes at Molloy College and joined the Halesite Fire Department in 2011. He continues to work as an adjunct professor at Molloy.
“Wellington Redemption” is on bookshelves now. Medici will have a book signing event on Sept. 21 at Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport; and on Oct. 4 at Martoni Gourmet Emporium in Huntington village.
