A summer surprise at the Fire Zone store in Midtown brought the FDNY’s new “Calendar of Heroes” to life. Firefighters and crew members posed, signed copies, and snapped selfies for fans on “Giving Tuesday.” The 24-stars of the 2026 calendar—both men and women—were beaming, flexing, and chatting with visitors as they walked the shop’s aisles.
The event was a hot affair, literally and figuratively, with many people flocking in to meet their favorites. One guest, California resident Jennifer Holmes, stopped by because it was her birthday. She marveled, “I mean, look at this! It’s pretty amazing,” before sharing how she’s always respected firefighters and wanted to show her support when she saw the turnout. Satisfied fans could buy a calendar for $25, and every dollar goes straight to the FDNY foundation to help those who serve.
Among the attendees was Denmark’s own Christina Mooer, who came because her husband urged her to. She laughed, “It was very hot. Very nice!” after chatting with the muscular heroes. The models, including Raymond Urena, 32, and Joselyn Vidal, 30, were visibly upbeat. “It’s actually the best feeling ever,” said Vidal, who originally had doubts about the selection process. “I was just hoping I could show myself, hey, if other people can do it, why not me?” she explained.
Both Urena and Vidal emphasized how Crucial the Giving‑Tuesday mission is for their roles. “It’s amazing. You can’t do this job if you don’t like giving back,” Urena added.
The FDNY Foundation’s chairman, Matt DiLiberto, expressed his excitement about the calendar’s return after a two‑year pause. He credited Firehouse Subs for a generous $250,000 contribution that covered all production expenses, stating, “To be without it for two years, we heard the call, and we were excited that Firehouse Subs came and said, ‘We’ll help you bring this back,’ ” and pointed out that the models will also champion fire‑safety education.
Another long‑time firefighter, 36‑year‑old Erasmos Soto, said he plans to give a calendar to his grandmother. “My grandma wanted one so fast. I was like, ‘You know what? I got you,’ ” he joked.
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