FASNY HONORS SENATOR MICHELLE HINCHEY WITH GOLDEN TRUMPET AWARD

Hudson Valley and Catskills Legislator Recognized for Steadfast Support of the NY Volunteer Fire Service and Creating the State’s First-Ever Capital Fund for Volunteer Fire Departments

Albany, New York — Today, the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) presented its prestigious Golden Trumpet Award to State Senator Michelle Hinchey, who represents New York’s 41st Senate District, recognizing her exceptional leadership and unwavering support for New York’s volunteer fire service.

For more than 30 years, the Golden Trumpet has been awarded to individuals who have gone above and beyond in championing the needs of volunteer firefighters — particularly in the areas of legislation, policy, and public safety. Senator Hinchey embodies that spirit of partnership and advocacy.

Since her election to the State Senate in 2020, Senator Hinchey has been a steadfast ally of the fire service, working tirelessly on behalf of the volunteer departments and EMS agencies in her Hudson Valley and Catskills district, which includes Columbia and Greene counties, Northern Dutchess, and parts of Ulster County — and across the entire state. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, she has used her seat at the budget table to deliver historic investments in the equipment, facilities, and services that first responders and the communities they protect depend on.

Most notably, Senator Hinchey created the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment (V-FIRE) Grant Program, which she established as a State Budget initiative in 2023. V-FIRE is the first-ever state capital fund dedicated to helping New York’s volunteer fire departments afford essential equipment and infrastructure upgrades that improve their facilities and emergency response capabilities. The program’s first round awarded $25 million to 88 volunteer fire departments in October 2024, and a second $25 million round was announced this September, including a maximum $1 million award to the Tivoli Fire Department in Dutchess County. Senator Hinchey also helped secure another $25 million for V-FIRE in the FY27 Enacted Budget, which will fund a third round of awards in 2027.

Beyond V-FIRE, Senator Hinchey has delivered more than $7.2 million in capital grants to help local departments purchase rescue equipment and turnout gear and modernize their firehouses. She sponsored a new law ensuring EMS providers are reimbursed for the lifesaving care they provide, and helped secure $750,000 in the 2026 State Budget to support the New York State Professional Fire Fighters Association. Her commitment to emergency services has been recognized beyond the fire service as well, earning her the American Red Cross’s 2023 Legislator of the Year award.

“Senator Michelle Hinchey didn’t just talk about the challenges facing our volunteer fire departments — she built a solution,” said FASNY President Donald Farrell. “V-FIRE has given departments across New York a dedicated funding stream for the stations, equipment, and apparatus they need to protect their communities, while easing the burden on local taxpayers. Her leadership has made a real and lasting difference for every volunteer firefighter in this state, and it is with great pride and gratitude that we present her with the FASNY Golden Trumpet Award.”

Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “I am deeply honored to receive FASNY’s Golden Trumpet Award. Our volunteer firefighters represent the very best of public service, risking their lives to protect their communities. Across New York, including the 135 volunteer fire departments in my district, generations of New Yorkers have answered that call, and they deserve representatives who have their backs. It is a privilege to be a strong voice for the volunteer fire services in the State Senate and to champion the protections and resources our first responders need to do their life-saving work. Thank you to FASNY for this tremendous honor.”