Nothing quite so fills our hearts, eyes, and hopes as the people who selflessly serve our country and communities, from military members to emergency and first responders. That’s why last November—Military Family Appreciation Month—we put out a call to nominate a hero or enter to win a chance at a free installation of the Harman Allure50, as a thank you for their selfless sacrifices and contributions to the community.
The response was overwhelming. Not only did we receive tons of entries, but the stories we received about selfless, compassionate and brave military members and first responders were not only touching, but filled with ingenuity and pride, which re-inspires us to continue to not only produce great products but also to go out and make the world a better place.
It wasn’t easy to choose, but ultimately we partnered with Rella Coal, American Panel Hearth, Duravent and Energex to install an Allure50 at the home of volunteer assistant fire chief Daniel DiPinto and his wife, Kim, in the Brookhaven Hamlet of Long Island in New York.
“I was definitely surprised when I got the email that I won. I was ecstatic. I felt like the father in A Christmas Story, you know?” DiPinto says.
DiPinto spends his days as an employee for the New York State Parks system, but is on call 24/7 as an assistant chief of the all-volunteer fire department. Volunteer firefighting is simply “in the blood,” 33-year-old DiPinto says.
In fact, DiPinto’s father made the national news and was honored at a Jets game after a particularly timely save. While getting ready for bed, he heard a car crash and ran outside. The first person confirmed they were all right, but the second was stuck in their vehicle, on train tracks. Daniel’s father was able to pull them from the car just moments before a train totaled it.
DiPinto joined his father and brother in the firehouse at a pivotal time in first responder services—right before 9/11. “That was a big turning point for the fire service and our departments,” he says. “Trainings got a lot harder, more time had to be devoted to it, and the community started to see that the amount of times the trucks went in and out of their neighborhoods.” In fact, calls nearly doubled in yearly volume—the volunteer staff now responds to about 700 calls a year, from house fires to car accidents to accidental alarms.
But the sheer volume of work to be done didn’t deter DiPinto. In 2014, he decided to move up the ranks, starting as lieutenant. In 2016, he became the captain, and in 2017 he was named the second assistant chief.
We were happy to give back by helping Daniel and Kim get the right heat for their home. Fueling a tight-knit community, keeping homes and hearts warm, and helping a helper—that’s what the Harman brand is all about.