Photo: L-R Miami Beach Fire Chief Digna Abello, Celebrity Chef Todd English, and Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones hold up the winner's belt for the 'Battle of the Badges' hamburger grill-off.
The Miami Beach Fire Department and Police Department, both longstanding supporters of Gift of Life, held their first annual “Battle of the Badges” hamburger grill-off on Sunday, October 5 to benefit the nonprofit organization.
Celebrity chef and restaurateur Todd English led the judge’s panel, which included Gift of Life Founder and CEO Jay Feinberg, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Micky Steinberg, Fraternal Order of Police President Robert “Bobby” Hernandez, Miami Beach Firefighter Michael Sica, Gift of Life marrow donor Betty Resnick and Gift of Life supporters Cole Boucher, Boucher Brothers Vice President of Business Development and The Betsy Hotel owner Jonathan Plutzick.
After the judges tasted the array of competitive burgers, they declared the police department the winner, producing the tastiest offering this year and taking home the prize – a Battle of the Badges heavyweight belt!
“We are proud to support Gift of Life, an organization whose very purpose is to save lives,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne A. Jones, a long-time advocate for the nonprofit’s mission. “The truth is, we can all be heroes — whether you wear a police uniform or a firefighter’s gear — through this incredible organization, each of us has the power to help save a life.”
The event, held at Fire Station No. 2 in Miami Beach, coincided with National Fire Prevention Week. In addition to Gift of Life hosting a donor recruitment drive, the fire department brought plenty of fire equipment and gear out for the kids to try on, along with their mascot, “Spot the Fire Dog,” who happily posed for pictures. The Color Guard presented the flag and the national anthem, and the police department’s K-9 officers demonstrated their incredible search and rescue skills.
“The Battle of the Badges is not only a friendly competition, but also about coming together as one community,” said Fire Chief Digna Abello. “By bringing the donor drive into the event, we gave attendees a chance to take meaningful action while also learning about fire safety.”
The highlight of the event was when Commissioner Micky Steinberg introduced 5-year-old leukemia survivor Dawson Lankford and his family to his Gift of Life marrow donor, Betty Resnick. The emotional moment saw young Dawson hugging Betty as his tearful mom and family thanked her for saving his life.
Both families have a firefighting connection: Dawson’s father, Steve, is a volunteer firefighter in their hometown of Seaford, Del., and Betty’s father has retired from a 28-year-career as a firefighter but continues to serve as a volunteer firefighter.
Dawson was diagnosed with leukemia when he was only 13 months old. His family was devastated and went through several difficult years after a series of successive treatments failed to work. Dawson’s only remaining option was a marrow transplant on an urgent timeline.
With none of his siblings a close-enough match to be his donor, doctors turned to the registry to search for a stranger who would match his tissue type – and found Betty in Gift of Life’s registry.
“Honestly, for the donor, this is a pretty small thing to go through in the grand scheme of things,” said Betty. “I’m so happy I got to play a role in Dawson’s recovery. I gave him a big hug and told him I’m proud of him and that I’m happy to be a part of his life.”
Betty, 30, joined the registry in 2016 during a drive at her college campus, Mississippi State University. She already knew of the registry’s importance to patients, because a childhood friend had survived blood cancer thanks to a transplant; she wanted to do what she could to help someone in need. She currently lives in Monterey, Calif., where she is an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force.
“We learned about Gift of Life after Dawson’s transplant, and I just want Betty to know that we are very, very thankful,” said Dawson’s mother, Jessica. “I can’t express to you how important this is. His donor really saved his life, and you, too, could save someone’s life – it’s a true miracle."
The Fire and Police Departments are already planning a delicious rematch for fall 2026. We hope to see you there!
Thank you to all the event sponsors, and especially the City of Miami Beach, the Miami Beach Fire Department, and the Miami Beach Police Department. On behalf of transplant survivors around the world, we appreciate your ongoing support for our lifesaving work.