Steinbrenner's Foundation To Fund Education For Fallen Officer's Son
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York Yankees -- thanks to late owner George Steinbrenner -- are stepping up to the plate for the family of Rafael Ramos, one of two NYPD officers murdered during an ambush in Brooklyn.
Steinbrenner's Silver Shield Foundation said it will fund the education costs for Ramos' two sons, the charity's chairman, William G. Walters, confirmed to USA Today's For The Win.
The Silver Shield Foundation offers support to families of Tri-State area policemen, firemen and port authority officers killed in the line of duty. Steinbrenner was moved to action in 1982 while attending the funeral of a fallen police officer.
"George could not forget the image of the children," co-founder James E. Fuchs says on the organization's website. "He was concerned about their education and who would help with the cost, so he established the Silver Shield Foundation."
Two years ago, the Silver Shield Foundation gave $40,000 to the two children of Nassau County police officer Joseph Olivieri, who was struck and killed by a vehicle on the Long Island Expressway. In 2011, it gave $80,000 to the four children of NYPD officer Peter Figoski, who was shot and killed while responding to a robbery in Brooklyn.
In total, the foundation has donated money to over 800 children, Walters told For The Win.
Ramos and his partner, Wenjian Liu, were murdered in their patrol car on Saturday. Liu had no children.
Jaden Ramos, 13, posted a message to Facebook after his father's death: "Today I had to say bye to my father. He was their for me everyday of my life, he was the best father I could ask for. It's horrible that someone gets shot dead just for being a police officer. Everyone says they hate cops but they are the people that they call for help. I will always love you and I will never forget you. RIP Dad."
Ramos' other son is a student at Bowdoin College. In an email, the college said it would cover the costs for the remainder of his education there.
"We will do everything we can to support him through this period. In the meantime, we will respect his privacy and that of his family as they deal with this terrible loss," the college said in a statement. "This is in keeping with Bowdoin's practice of meeting the full financial need of each of our students for all four years. We are grateful for the Yankee Silver Shield Foundation's offer to assist, but Bowdoin has it covered."
The New York Jets and Rangers both held a moment of silence for the officers before their games on Sunday.
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