Our Annual Picnic

Picnic 2025 Group Picture

The Lt. Joe Gullickson Annual Picnic

This is our flagship annual event where we remember and honor all those who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001—especially FDNY Lt. Joseph Gullickson, one of the “Seven in Heaven” who were lost from Ladder 101 of the “Red Hook Raiders.”

Picnic Details

The Maverick Foundation held our Annual Lt. Joe Gullickson Memorial Picnic at Nansen Park. It was an awesome day attended by 250+ supporters. The event began appropriately with the FDNY Color Guard led and organized by Captain Joe Farinacci and Chief Jim Boylan followed by the singing of our national anthem by Emma Fitzgerald who is a 2025 graduate of Moore Catholic High School. Captain Farinacci worked with Joe at the Red Hook Raiders Firehouse and Chief Boylan was a childhood friend of Joe’s.

Emma Fitzgerald

Emma Fitzgerald

National Anthem Singer

Talia Lioce with rabbit

A great time was had by all especially the kids who were able to test their axe throwing skills, rock-climbing ability, enjoy face painting, balloon sculptures, magic tricks, and bubble-making, experience bungee jumping on a trampoline, take a ride on a pony, or meet cute animals in the petting zoo. 

We were proud to introduce our 32 scholarships recipients especially our four graduates all of whom achieved the prestigious Congressional Award Gold Medal including Ryan Leonard, a graduate of Monsignor Farrell and Eagle Scout, who will be attaining King’s Point Merchant Marine Academy, Jenna Ruiz, a graduate of Staten Island Academy, who will be attending Cornell University, Matthew Harrington, a graduate of Monsignor Farrell and valedictorian, who will be attending Villanova University, and Logan Kielty, a graduate of Saint Peter’s, who will be attending Franklin Pierce University. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and for being fine role models! We wish our graduates the best of success and happiness!

Joe always loved getting family, friends, and neighbors together at his house for an outdoor barbecue where he would exchange jokes and stories, share his passion for music (especially the Grateful Dead), recount the heroic exploits of our greatest generation, talk about his favorite Honeymooners episodes or movies such as Saving Private Ryan and Lonesome Dove. He would pick up the basketball and initiate games of 21 in the driveway, while talking about Larry Bird.

The last time Joe had the opportunity to revel in the day like this was at his daughter Isabel’s first birthday party in late August 2001. Joe’s daughters, Amanda, 3, and Isabel, 1, were just getting to know their dad on what should have been a lifelong journey, when that was viciously and cowardly stolen from them on September 11, 2001.

Picture shows two vertical columns of the rising star candidates for 2025. From left to right Connor Gioia, Gabriella Avitto, Jack Hayden, Steven Ragucci, Julianna Binetti, and Robyn Rockfeller.

We are excited to introduce six new scholarship recipients who are entering high school including Ryan Rockfeller, a graduate of Blessed Sacrament attending Moore Catholic, Gabriella Avitto, a graduate of Blessed Sacrament attending Notre Dame Academy, Steve Ragucci, a graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel attending Monsignor Farrell, Connor Gioia, a graduate of Our Lady of Good Counsel attending Monsignor Farrell, Jack Hayden, a graduate of Our Lady Queen of Peace attending Monsignor Farrell, and Julianna Binetti, a graduate of Blessed Sacrament attending Notre Dame Academy. Welcome & Congratulations! We look forward to sharing your exciting journey through high school and helping your dreams and aspirations come true. “To The Max!” as Dan McGuire would say. 

We highlighted the following achievements for 2025:
 
  • Awarded $33,000 totaling $619,840 since 2002
  • Committed $147,250 for the next four years
  • Twenty-eight active scholarship recipients from freshman to senior attending eight different high schools
  • Performed 1,800 hours of community service totaling 22,805 hours since 2002
  • Supported twelve new volunteer organizations and causes increasing from 27 to 39
Our scholarship recipients are challenged to set and achieve goals in the areas of personal development (PD), physical fitness (PF), expedition/exploration (EXP), and especially volunteer public service (VPS) with the nationally recognized Congressional Award as our partner organization striving for their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals. We are proud to announce the following medal achievements:
Six Gold Medals – Requires 400 Hours of VPS, 200 Hours of PD, 200 of PF, & 5 Days of EXP
o Ryan Leonard
o Matthew Harrington
o Jenna Ruiz
o Logan Kielty
o Lily Ahlborn
o Talia Lioce
Two Silver Medals – Requires 200 Hours of VPS, 100 Hours of PD, 100 of PF, & 3 Days of EXP
o Annie Falcone
o Sean Britton
Five Bronze Medals – Requires 100 Hours of VPS, 50 Hours of PD, 50 of PF, & 2 Days of EXP
o Michael Avitto
o Madison Backstrom
o Connor Kukal
o Nicole Falanga
o Gabriella Peragine
We have achieved 69 Bronze, 58 Silver, and 48 Gold Medals since 2002 for a total of 175!
No doubt Joe was smiling down upon us for his special day. We would like to thank all who supported the event in so many ways big and small. This includes:
  • The FDNY Color Guard, especially Captain Joe Farinacci and Chief Jim Boylan
  • Emma Fitzgerald for singing the National Anthem
  • The FDNY Family Transport Foundation for Truck “343”
  • Taste of Honey, especially Chris, Brian, & Reese, for a great set-up and awesome menu and service throughout the day
  • Send in the Clowns, especially Raffy, for setting up and maintaining the rides throughout the day and providing a fun experience
 
  • “The Racket”, especially Jim Burger, for the live music and playing the hits
  • Jeremy Kunkus for giving the kids an awesome experience with his petting zoo and pony rides, as he has done for us for over 20 years.
  • Bernadine & Isabella Ferrari for their artistic flair with face painting, tattoos, and bubble magic
  • Greg for his creative balloon sculptures
  • “Bury the Hatchet” for their axe-throwing challenge for kids and adults
  • Eggers Chocolates & Balloons for their balloon arrangements
  • Aunt Kate & Uncle Joe for flower arrangements in memory of Mom
  • Last but not least, Lucas Vazquez for his outstanding Program Guide and Slide Show
  • Sarah Perez for assisting with the last-minute final details of the Program Guide
 
Unsung heroes behind the scenes who were in the mad rush assisting with the set-up in the morning and running operations throughout the day including The Red Hook Raiders, Annie Falcone, Julianna Criscuoli, Rebecca & Jake, Aunt Kate & Uncle Joe, Talia Lioce, Lily Ahlborn, Dina & Brian Lioce, Michele Pizzo, plus many others. Special shout-out to Rebecca with the presentation of the awards and Jake with the set-up in the morning and awesome job packing things up at the end of the day. No small task! Thank You!
Generous supporters who donated prizes to help make a success for our raffle table including Turner Construction Company for the Met Sky Club tickets, Yanil Rosario for play tickets to “Wicked” & “Moulin Rouge”, Rick Crane for the iPad, Roman Jewelers, Kenny and Robin Schirripa for the Samsung Smart TV, Ryan & Christina O’Shea and Laurie & John Tomaszewski for the Apple Watch, Ralph & Tracy Gullickson for the Fuji Mountain Bike, Kaitlyn and Max Novelli for the Nintendo Switch-Lite, Patricia Gullickson for the Scratch-off Lottery Collection, Amanda Gullickson for the Crate & Barrel Tray and Gift Certificate, Peter & Lenore Batten for the Denino’s & Ralph’s Ice Gift Certificates, Mike Harrington for “The Point” Gift Basket, Michele Pizzo for Beach & Fitness Baskets, Jim Boylan for the FDNY Shirt Collection, Isabella for the Fox News Freedom Basket, plus others.
Thank You for your Generous Support!
To all who bought and sold our cash raffle tickets! Thank you!
(This revenue is an important contributing factor to support the funding of our event.)
To all who took the time on a busy Saturday with a lot going on, especially those who traveled distances to attend our event and remember Joe! Some traveled from Manhattan by public transportation. Some traveled from Long Island and Connecticut with heavy traffic. Thank You!

A huge thank you and appreciation to our major donors including:

Turner Construction Company, the John Thomann Foundation, Mayrich Construction, New York Concrete, Kleinknecht Electric, Olympic Plumbing, PJ Mechanical, Egg Electric, Allran Electric, Joseph Byrne, PJ Mechanical Company, The Lioce Family, Edward & Susan Kearon, Highmark Building Maintenance, Kate & Joe O’Shea, JB&B, Rael Sprinkler Company, Anguili & Gentile Law Firm, Kathy Hollywood, & Trung Hoang.

Thank You!

“The whole trick to life is to open your eyes and see what is going on around you.”

—Dan McGuire

“Opportunity & Challenge”

“To the Max!”

The Maverick Foundation - Awards Photo

The Eagle Award

This award is given to one community member each year who demonstrates service, dedication, and support of the foundation.

We recognize the following Eagle Award recipients:

  • 2019 . . . Rose Anne Walsh & John Schirripa
  • 2018 . . . Dan Prince
  • 2017 . . . Joseph Byrne
  • 2016 . . . Peter Batten
  • 2015 . . . Ted Farinella
  • 2014 . . . Kenneth Schirripa
  • 2013 . . . Ryan O’Shea
  • 2012 . . . Bob Barker
  • 2011 . . . Greg Dooney
  • 2010 . . . Jim Boylan
  • 2010 . . . John & Joann Christie
  • 2009 . . . Edward Kearon
  • 2009 . . . Joe Borrelli
  • 2008 . . . Christopher “Zeke” Quin