EXCLUSIVE: Helping youngsters with scholarships and jobs after witnessing the horrors of 9/11 is part of the vow Michael Barasch made after dozens of firefighters he knew were killed in the horror attacks he witnessed20:03, 09 Sep 2026It may be 25 years ago, but the horrific sight of seeing “dozens of people” jumping to their deaths from the World Trade Center is an image that has never left Michael Barasch.‌He also personally knew dozens of the firefighters who were killed. And he made a vow that day that whatever he could do to help the families of the victims in the future he would do so. He has certainly kept his promise.‌A quarter of a century on, he has given dozens of jobs at his Charitable Foundation to wives, husbands, sons and daughters of those who were died. Just last week another six teenagers, who lives were affected by 9/11, were given scholarships to help with their university fees.‌As the victims’ children grew up many were able to seize the opportunity of employment at his offices - just a couple of blocks from the World Trade Centre. "It was the very least I could do,” said Michael, 71.As we sat in his office he reeled off the names of members of his own staff who had fallen ill in recent years. Secretaries with skin cancer, lawyers with kidney cancer. He has been battling prostate cancer and skin cancer himself. He said: “We’ve given jobs to several dozen children and spouses of those who died on 9/11. It’s been great from a personal point of view and wonderful to help them after what they’ve been through.‌"It’s great to help those who are part of the 9/11 community. And they know what it has been like. When people call up to talk about issues surrounding 9/11 and they might say ‘you just don’t know what it’s like’. In fact our people do know exactly what it’s like and that a real help to them.”‌Michael explained: “They come and perhaps work in the claims department or in various admin jobs. But some fall in love with law and then go off to law school.” He joked: “I tell them ‘I’ve given you a job and now you’re going and leaving me!’ But then some of them actually come back. We’ve got five or six lawyers with us now who all had their first start with us in different roles.”He added: “It makes me so proud that so many of them end up going on to law school, or it's a way for them to spend some meaningful time giving back in honour of their parents who passed away. It makes me feel great to know that I'm putting my clients at ease, but I'm also giving these young people something meaningful to do with their careers.“I'm one of those people who believed the government when they said the air was safe to breathe. It wasn't. My office is three blocks from ground zero. I was exposed to the exact same toxins as the firefighters and cops. And not surprisingly, I got sick like so many others.‌"The office workers, the former students, the former teachers, the downtown residents, were all coming down with the same illnesses, the same cancers as the 9/11 heroes. And for me, I had prostate cancer and skin cancer, two of the most common cancers in the 9/11 community.“Thankfully, both of them were diagnosed early, and that really is the key. I know it sounds corny, but the key to surviving cancer is early detection and early treatment. So I consider myself really lucky."‌He heads the Barasch & McGarry charitable foundation. His legal firm represented many firefighters even before 9/11. They hosted an event last week on the 80th floor of 3 World Trade Centre called “Giving Back: Honouring the 25th Remembrance of 9/11”.He invited the Mirror along to watch as they gave scholarships to Gabriella Abate, Sophia Cucuzza, Ian Dannenfelser, Domenick Masiello, Gianna Romano and Thomas Sheehan. They are all aged just 17 and 18.Gabriella is honouring her grandad Joseph M Abate senior - a NYPD electrician who restored power at Ground Zero. She will attend Marist University where she study fashion merchandising. Sophia is honouring her mum Jaime Cucuzza who worked at Thomson Reuters downtown office. She will attend Hofstra University to study nursing.‌Ian is honouring his grandad a lifelong volunteer firefighter and Deputy Chief Marshall with Camden County Fire Marshal’s office. Ian is attending Penn State to study mechanical engineering. Domenick is honouring his grandad Domenick Zernone, a Local 3 electrician who helped restore critical systems after 9/11. He will attend Lafayette College to study mechanical engineering.Article continues belowGianna who honouring her granny Marie Erico who worked at Aon’s office in the South Tower. She will attend Penn State to study Communication Sciences and Disorders. Thomas is honouring his mum Delia Tanger who lived in Battery Park and later passed away from cancer. He will attend the New Jersey Institute of Technology.Among those Michael helped with a job is Bridget Gormley. She lost her dad William “Billy” Gormley a hero firefighter who later died of bladder cancer. She said: “I’ve worked here for eight years. When I first started I was taking phone calls and now I work in a community liaison role.“Michael likes to help people who can relate to the people he is trying to help. He has absorbed new generation - children who lost their parents at 9/11. People really are very grateful for the opportunities they’ve been given.”