1. How did you first learn about The Doe Fund and what inspired you to become involved?

My interest in The Doe Fund was initially piqued by the “men in blue” who were always working so enthusiastically while cleaning the streets of my neighborhood. Once I found out these men were participants in the Ready, Willing & Able program of The Doe Fund, I made sure to introduce myself to representatives from the organization when my firm sponsored an event with them not long after. Since then, I have strived to dedicate my own time, while also spreading the word about the “men in blue” to my friends and colleagues.

2. What has been the most rewarding part of your involvement with The Doe Fund?

The trainees have an infectious energy, which has an incredible effect on me. Every time I work with a new trainee at a mock interview, I learn a little bit more about applying commitment and resilience to every endeavor in life. After our events, all of the volunteers from my firm tell me how much the determination of the trainees has inspired them personally.

3. Tell us your favorite “men in blue” story.

I have so many favorite stories, but the one that first comes to mind is from several years ago. It was the first time I organized a Mock Interview night where volunteers from my company joined me to conduct mock interviews with The Doe Fund trainees. I remember being very nervous and not knowing what to expect. The first man I interviewed was a trainee by the name of Joseph who was close to graduating from the program. Joseph’s impressive preparedness put me instantly at ease. Through the interview, I learned how his Doe Fund experience gave him the confidence and determination needed to enter the working world and better his life. At that point I realized that The Doe Fund was an organization I wanted to work with long term.

4. The “men in blue” are such an integral part of our community in New York— what does community mean to you as a New Yorker?

Community means supporting others around you as if they were family. New Yorkers are so much more of a community than some people not from here may realize. We are one big family that comes together when needed. There have been so many times I have seen a person fall on the street and tens of people surround them to see if they are okay. To me, The Doe Fund exemplifies the extraordinary community spirit of New York by its very mission: coming together to help formerly homeless and incarcerated individuals get on their feet again.

5. Why do you think it is important to support The Doe Fund and how would you encourage others to get involved?

Supporting The Doe Fund means supporting New York. Not only are you supporting individuals who are working hard to reenter society as productive members, but you are also supporting their mission to clean up the streets of the city we love. There are so many ways to get involved. To me the key is being aware that the homeless men and women on the street are human beings. They have families and loved ones. They are like you and me, but have perhaps not been as fortunate. All they need is a chance and people like you and me to believe in them. There are also ways to volunteer one-on-one with the trainees and help them find jobs, which is the key to The Doe Fund’s success. If you want to get involved further, financial support is so important in order for The Doe Fund to be able to provide these critical opportunities.

Dear Doe Fund,

There was a man who used to ask me for money on the corner of 63rd and Park, maybe five years ago. I can’t remember—maybe more.

Then one day I met him on the street, and he had on a proud blue uniform and I was so happy for him. And then one day he went by driving a Doe Fund van, honking and waving ecstaticly. Then he was promoted to some level of supervisor.

Today marks 1,000 days since my last drink of alcohol (but who’s counting?). So I wanted to celebrate by writing you because I admire all of the “men in blue” so much!

- 64th and Park Avenue

There’s no paper, nothing to slip and slide and accidentally fall on. It’s been looking very, very, very nice, and very clean.

View the news clip here

1. How did you first learn about The Doe Fund and what inspired you to become involved?

I discovered The Doe Fund at a point in my career when I had established some financial stability – I think it was soon after the success of Reality Bites. It was the first time I had felt able to give a substantial amount of money to others in need.  My mother made it clear that not only was I able to give, but obligated to. We did a lot of research about various homeless shelters, and we visited and toured various nonprofits in New York City as part of a mission to make me a better person.  I was very impressed with The Doe Fund, not to mention [the founders] George and Harriet.

I was impressed by the strength and integrity of the men and what they were going through, so my mother and I started working with them.  I formed a friendship with George and Harriet over the years, and as our friendship deepened, so did my respect for the organization.

It is interesting that now I have done a lot more films where I play a criminal, a law enforcement officer, and/or a drug user.  I have learned a lot from those parts.  I have embraced those opportunities because those stories are so important to tell.

2. What has been the most rewarding part of your involvement with The Doe Fund?

Falling in love with my then-girlfriend, now my wife, when she worked there.

Second to that, as a child of divorce and as a divorced father, knowing I may be playing some small part in getting families back together means a tremendous amount to me.

Last but not least, because the rate of return to prison is so high, it is hugely important to know that The Doe Fund is decreasing recidivism and helping people get their life back.

3. Tell us your favorite “men in blue” story.

One of my favorite “men in blue” stories would have to be about Brendon. After “pushing the bucket” during his time in the Ready, Willing & Able program, he interned with NYC Animal Care. Today, he does amazing work rescuing animals throughout New York City, upstate New York, and even in Canada. One of the things I think is so special about him, though, is that he makes sure to keep his strong ties to The Doe Fund. He goes back to visit the Harlem Center for Opportunity and the program director, Nazerine, and even participates in orientation to act as an example of the amazing success that can come out of the program.

4. The “men in blue” are such an integral part of our community in New York— what does community mean to you as a New Yorker?

Community to me means an implicit understanding that we are all in this together, that we are bound together.  As Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  That is true for other challenges in society—poverty, violence, mental illness, addiction. If one person is suffering the world is suffering.

I also think that in a way, New Yorkers have to work harder to maintain the fabric of our community than those in a small town upstate.  It is easy to ignore our responsibility to others, because there is SO MUCH going on and SO MANY people [that] you can shut down and isolate yourself.  We all lose when we do that. George and Harriet continue to do the opposite: to forge a strong community—one with diversity and made up of people with a variety of experiences and backgrounds. 

5. Why do you think it is important to support The Doe Fund and how would you encourage others to get involved?

Every time I go to The Doe Fund graduation or a benefit, I see the adversity that these men have gone through and their subsequent triumphs, and I am filled with awe.  It humbles me.  It makes me love this city and the people in it. Our newspapers and televisions are full of stories of failure, and sometimes we forget to notice that there are so many stories of triumph.

When some of us are dealt such a good hand and some of us such a poor hand, it is important to remember that life is not a game.  If we don’t provide a net for people to help themselves and if we don’t look after each other, we will all pay the price. The same is true for our environment… heck, people are our environment.  For those born without a net, we need to have a society that provides one.

What an accomplishment!
Probably the most noticable changes in New York have been accomplished by your people. Their demeanor–professional and friendly-has earned the respect of all New Yorkers. They have made a difference in the neighborhoods they serve.

- an Upper West Side resident

Ethan with his mother, Leslie Hawke, at the 2007 Doe Fund Gala.

“I realized that men and women have been struggling to get along for eternity. You think your situation is so unique, but we have so much to learn from each other. I was really humbled by what these guys have to recover from.”

Read the entire article here

You can support Nikki, Gina, and our other runners by clicking here to donate to Ready, Willing & Able in support of the Marathon. And be sure to come out on Sunday, November 7, the day of the big race and cheer them on!