About Us
OUR MISSION
John 'Chip' Chipura was an American with a heart as big as a Montana sky even though he was a city slicker from New York. John contributed throughout his life by being a committed Boy Scout, a faithful Marine, a smart NYC Police Detective and then a brave NYC Fireman. He was a man with a larger than life personality. Any family and friends who knew John would tell you that aside from the qualities above, he was a giving, gregarious, friendly man who was most often looking out for others. They would tell you that bumping into him would ensure a long conversation with many laughs, where often you could not resist John's infectious grin. John lost his life in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, while he was trying to do what was quite natural to him, help others. His extraordinary life taught him many lessons which molded his personality as such it was. The scale of the amount of people he helped was never truly known until after he was gone. That was the character of John. He didn't talk about helping people; he just did it.
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"We should never forget and we should always be available to help out a fellow brother."
A Legacy of Service
FDNY
Even though he distinguished himself in service to the NYPD, John still felt that something was missing. As someone whose personality centered around helping others the Fire Dept was attracting him as a way to accomplish that. John also longed for the camaraderie and team ethic of the firehouse.
NYPD
After his honorable discharge from the Marines in 1987, Mr. Chipura desired to continue serving the community and joined the city Police Department in 1987. He was assigned to the 72nd Precinct in his old neighborhood, Sunset Park. John was a member of the New York Police Department for 12 years.
Military
John served from 1980 to 1984 stationed at Camp Lejeune with several tours overseas in the 24th MAU HQ. John was a corporal and a radioman with 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment with the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit in Beirut From Oct '82 to March '84.
Boy Scouts
John joined the Boy Scouts in 1974 as a member of Troop 21 in Tottenville, Staten Island. He attained Eagle Scout and later in his adult life was an Assistant Scout Master until 2001. Chip felt very strongly about the Boy Scouts as a positive part of his life.
Upcoming Events
Annual John G. Chipura Golf Outing 2026
September 17th, 2026Join us for our biggest event of the year filled with golf, laughter and family!
Location: Silver Lake Golf Course, 915 Victory Blvd, SI, NYFlyer Donation Form Donation Letter Flyer and donation information coming soon!
Annual John G. Chipura Blood Drive 2026
TBDSave lives and join us at our annual blood drive!
Location: Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 7396 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, NY, 10307Flyer
Scholarship Opportunities
Investing in the Next Generation
In honor of John's commitment to mentorship and education, the foundation is proud to offer scholarships to deserving Eagle Scouts pursuing a college degree.
We believe in empowering young leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to community service. This scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to help them achieve their academic and professional goals. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process, please download the information packet and application form.
Download Application Packet
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Support Our Mission
Your generous contribution directly funds our programs, providing essential support to FDNY members and their families. Every donation, no matter the size, helps us honor our commitment to New York's Bravest.
All donations are tax-deductible. Click the button below to contribute securely through our partner platform.
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