Accession Number: C.2016.74.3
Dimensions: 0.25 in X 1.75 in
Dimensions (Metric): 0.635 cm X 4.445 cm
Credit Line: Gift of John Feal
Description
Gold-colored challenge coin with the FealGood Foundation logo on the front featuring a silhouette of recovery workers against a graphic of the United States and an American flag. Text around the logo reads: "Outreach & Education." The back of the coin includes printed text: "in conjunction with. . .| WTC Health Program" with the WTC Health Program logo printed in the center.
Historical Notes
Demolition worker John Feal was injured days after arriving at Ground Zero, resulting in the amputation of part of a foot. Initially denied compensation he believed he was due, Feal became a grassroots advocate for responders, recovery workers, and survivors facing illness and mounting medical expenses. The FealGood Foundation, established in 2005 to raise funds on behalf of recovery workers, championed the passage of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act of 2015, and finally the "Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act" in 2019.
When Feal and his team met with lawmakers to discuss the importance of the legislation, they handed out challenge coins to remind them about importance of their cause.