The 70th annual Hero Thrill Show will take place on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
See the Highlights from the 2024 Show
THE MISSION OF THE HERO THRILL SHOW IS TO PAY FOR THE COLLEGE TUITION OF CHILDREN OF PHILADELPHIA POLICE OFFICERS AND/OR FIREFIGHTERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
The Hero Thrill Show® Inc. is the only organization that pays for the college tuition of the children of Police Officers and/or Firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty. The Hero Thrill Show® is NOT affiliated with the Hero Scholarship Fund.
The 2024 Hero Thrill Show
Entering the Wells Fargo Center at the 69th annual Hero Thrill Show.
Highlights from the 2023 Hero Thrill Show
Photos from the Hero Thrill Show Kick Off Rally on Wednesday August 30th, 2023.
CBS Philadelphia : Police in Hero Thrill Show holding outdoor practice
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The first 17 Harley Davidson Road King Police Model motorcycles gifted to the Philadelphia Police Department Highway Patrol Motorcycle Drill Team by CopWheels Inc. (total 64). Come see them perform at the Hero Thrill Show and visit: herothrillshow.org
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The Oral History of The Hero Thrill Show
The Oral History of The Hero Thrill Show, Part 2
2022 Hero Thrill Show Rally
COVERAGE FROM 2021 EVENT
COVERAGE FROM 2019 EVENT
Jimmy Binns promotes the 2019 Hero Thrill Show with Vai Sikahema.
COVERAGE FROM 2018 EVENT
The parade, arriving at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday, September 22, 2018
for the 64th annual Hero Thrill Show®.
for the 64th annual Hero Thrill Show®.
Entering the performance area.
With Grand Marshall, Kenny Gamble, co-founder of The Sound Of Philadelphia (TSOP)
COVERAGE FROM 2017 EVENT
Entering the performance area of the Hero Thrill Show® on September 23, 2017 at the Wells Fargo Center. We were blessed with rain free weather and an overwhelming crowd who came out to support the families of Philadelphia Police Officers and Firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
At the 2017 Hero Thrill Show® Pep Rally on Market Street.
Circling the performance area at the 2017 Hero Thrill Show®
Highway Patrol Officers from throughout the Delaware Valley circling the performance area prior to the 2017 Hero Thrill Show®
You can run but you can’t hide from a K 9 Officer and partner.
With Mr. & Mrs. Saturday Night, Bob & Debbie Pantano and their “friends”.
Photo Credit: William Z. Foster
On September 23, 2017, with Patsy McDonald, celebrating and honoring the life, memory, service and heroism of her son, Highway Patrol Officer Sgt. Patrick McDonald, Badge #398, who was killed in the line of duty on September 23, 2008.
Mayor Jim Kenney, City Representative Sheila Hess and Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel spend time with children attending the 63rd Annual Hero Thrill at the fire truck rides -- a popular activity managed by the Phila. Fire Department. The Fire Department educated children on how they fight fires and on various maneuvers and tactics related to fire prevention.
Photo Credit: William Z. Foster
Hero Thrill Show Thrills for 63rd Year
The 63rd annual Hero Thrill Show fundraiser was a destination of excitement and remembrance at the Wells Fargo Center parking lot in South Philadelphia. Kids and the young at heart got the opportunity to be unofficial firefighters and police officers for a day, while enjoying the sights and sounds of carnival games, Boardwalk food and throw-back music from the 1970s.
The 2017 Hero Thrill Show raises funds from ticket sales and donations for the post high school educations of survivors of deceased police officers and firefighters who were killed in the line of duty.
The 2017 Hero Thrill Show raises funds from ticket sales and donations for the post high school educations of survivors of deceased police officers and firefighters who were killed in the line of duty.
PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT WINS THE 32ND ANNUAL WEIGHT
WATCHERS® BATTLE OF THE BADGES™WEIGHT-LOSS COMPETITION AGAINST
THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Beginning
The Hero Thrill Show® made its debut in 1954. The mission of the Hero Thrill Show® is to raise money to pay for the college tuition of children of Philadelphia Police Officers and/or Firefighters killed in the line of duty. Until 1990 the Hero Thrill Show® was produced by the City of Philadelphia. From 1990 until 2005 the Hero Thrill Show® was produced by the Hero Scholarship Fund. After the 2005 Hero Thrill Show® the Hero Scholarship Fund discontinued the show.
On January 20, 2006* the President of the Hero Scholarship Fund informed the Police and Fire Commissioners of Philadelphia that:
On January 20, 2006* the President of the Hero Scholarship Fund informed the Police and Fire Commissioners of Philadelphia that:
"After carefully comparing revenues over the past several years, including decreases as well as the expense and difficulty in putting on the show, it has been decided to discontinue the show..."
She further detailed the reason for discontinuing the show in a March 3, 2006 letter * wherein she stated:
"The reason for our discontinuance of the show is that it was originally established in 1954 as a city function and operation. Since 1994 we have been forced to operate the show simply because there was no city backing. Hence, we have been operating as a "one man Director of Operations". Further, we cannot continue to lay out the money necessary to fund the show each year by becoming the producers as well."
*** you may view these letters by clicking on the files below.
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The Present
Upon receipt of the above quoted letters, the Police and Fire Commissioners of Philadelphia approached James J. Binns, Esquire, a Philadelphia Lawyer, who, at their request, founded the Hero Thrill Show®, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization which assumed production of the Hero Thrill Show® and the administration of funds generated by the show. Mr. Binns is president of The Hero Thrill Show. Since 2006, The Hero Thrill Show® has been produced by the Hero Thrill Show®, Inc. The Hero Thrill Show®, Inc. has put 30 children through college.
For the complete history of the evolution of the Hero Thrill Show® click here.
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Police widows support the Hero Thrill Show®, Inc. NOT the Hero Scholarship Fund.
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FAMILIES BENEFITED BY THE HERO THRILL SHOW®
Hero Thrill Show®, Inc. Scholars
Since the formation of the Hero Thrill Show® Inc. in 2006, the full college tuition of all of the children of all of the fallen Philadelphia Police Officers and Firefighters have been paid for by the Hero Thrill Show® Inc. No other organization provides financial assistance to the children of fallen Philadelphia Police Officers and/or Firefighters. The Hero Thrills Show® Inc. is NOT affiliated with the Hero Scholarship Fund.
The initial recipients of scholarships from the Hero Thrill Show® Inc were Katie, Brigid, Nora and John Redmond, whose father, Firefighter John Redmond, was killed in the line-of-duty on January 28, 1994. They have completed their education.
Kimberly Acey, whose father, Firefighter Vencent Acey, was also killed in the line-of-duty on January 28, 1994, graduated from Eastern University.
Joseph Marynowitz, whose father, Police Officer John Marynowitz, was shot and paralyzed in the line-of-duty on June 16, 1993, graduated from Holy Family University.
Joseph Friel, whose father, Police Officer Joseph Friel, was killed in the line-of-duty on December 4, 1994, graduated from St. Joseph's University.
Robert and Nicole Skerski, whose father, Police Officer Gary Skerski, was killed in the line-of-duty on May 8, 2006, graduated from La Salle University.
Katie, Colby and John Cassidy, whose father, Police Officer Chuck Cassidy, was killed in the line-of-duty on October 31, 2007, attended Gwynedd-Mercy University.
Amber Liczbinski, whose father, Police Officer Stephen Liczbinski, was killed in the line-of-duty on May 3, 2008, attended Gwynedd Mercy University.
Jazmin Nazario, whose mother, Police Officer Isabel Nazario, was killed in the line-of-duty on September 5, 2008, attended Community College.
Terrance, Samantha, and Courtney Simpson, whose father, Police Officer Timothy Simpson, was killed in the line-of-duty on November 17, 2008, graduated from Widener University, Gwynedd Mercy University, and Holy Family University respectively.
Marissa Long, whose father, Police Office Brian Lorenzo, was killed in the line-of-duty on July 8, 2012, graduated from Philadelphia Community College.
Katelyn and Jennifer Stackwitz, whose father, Police Officer Andrew Stackwitz, died in the line-of-duty on September 26, 2008, graduated from Manor College and Kaplan Career Institute respectively.
Mekhi Donte Green, whose Firefighter mother, Lieutenant Joyce Craig, was killed in the line of duty on December 9, 2014 attended Penn State University.
Eric Lee, whose father, Firefighter Gabriel Lee, died in the line of duty on July 23, 2016, attended Penn State University. Gabriel Lee is attending the University of Pittsburgh.
Sarah Colton, whose father, Police Officer George Hall, died in the line of duty on January 30, 1989, attends Philadelphia Community College.
Walter DeWitt, whose father Walter DeWitt 3rd, died in the line of duty on June 5, 2015, attends Montgomery County Community College.
Victoria and Michael Bernstein, the children of firefighter Michael Bernstein (LODD - 3/20/19) attended the University of Tennessee and Gwynedd Mercy University respectively.
Madison Bamberger, the daughter of Officer Douglas Bamberger (EOW 10/18/16) attended Philadelphia Community College.
Mia Mendez, the daughter of Officer Richard Mendez (EOW-10/12/23) attends Temple University.
The following children will receive full tuition scholarships as soon as they achieve college age: Johnny Pawlowski, Dominic Lorenzo, Gabrielle and Chase Lee. Johnny Pawlowski, whose father John was killed in the line of duty on February 13, 2009 is scheduled to enter college in 2016. Domenic Lorenzo, whose Police Officer father Brian was killed in the line of duty on July 8, 2012 is scheduled to enter college in 2024.
Adam and Adrianna Chan, the children of Highway Patrol Officer Andy Chan, who was paralyzed in the line-of-duty on January 3, 2019, will enter college in 2031 and 2033 respectively. Robert Wilson IV will enter college in 2032.
Abigail, the youngest child of Police officer Douglas Bamberger (EOW-10/18/16) is scheduled to enter college in the fall of 2024.
The Hero Thrill Show® Inc. is the only organization that pays for the college tuition of the children of Police Officers and/or Firefighters who have been killed in the line of duty.
The Hero Thrill Show®, Inc. is NOT affiliated with the Hero Scholarship Fund