Rhoback partners with The Never Forget Fund for the 25th anniversary of 9/11
As we approach the 25th year anniversary of the September 11th attacks, golf apparel brand Rhoback has created a commemorative capsule in support of the 9/11 Memorial and Museum’s The Never Forget Fund.
Leading the collaboration with Rhoback are two New York City firefighters and a retired captain of the United States Army. Lieutenants Chris Mascali, James Dowdell and captain Patrick Dowdell were called to service by the heroism and sacrifice displayed by each of their fathers on Sept. 11th, 2001.
For Rhoback co-founder and CEO Kevin Hubbard, working with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and The Never Forget Fund has deep personal significance. Hubbard grew up a close friend to James Dowdell, in Breezy Point, Queens, a small community hit incredibly hard by the events of Sept. 11.
The Never Forget Fund was established in 2021 by the 9/11 Memorial and Museum with the goal to educate younger generations about the history, sacrifices, and aftermath of Sept. 11th. The fund supports educational resources including online experiences, museum workshops, and leadership development.
“As the 25th anniversary approaches, I’ve started to look at things differently,” Mascali said. “I realize the need to educate the generations of kids who weren’t alive on 9/11, on the incredible leadership and resilience of that day.”
The apparel capsule for the Never Forget Fund officially debuts on Sept. 4th, one week prior to the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with 100 percent of the profits going directly to the fund. The collection features two ultra-soft lightweight polo shirts with commemorative and honorary graphics, including the New York City skyline and FDNY helmets. Rounding out the collection is a moisture-whicking quarter-zip with the 9/11 Memorial and Museum logo on the left side. Each item comes with a vertically positioned American Flag below the back collar.
Since its founding in 2016, Rhoback has been partnered with the Dowdell brothers to create custom polos for the FDNY Emerald Society Pipes and Drums band, composed of retired and active FDNY members. “The years of partnership created a natural segue to working with James again,” Hubbard said, referencing the Never Forget Fund partnership.
The Dowdell brothers approached Mascali, captain of the FDNY’s Bravest Golf Team, ahead of the upcoming anniversary about partnering with Rhoback to support The Never Forget Fund. Made up of the best golfers in the FDNY, the Bravest Golf Team is more than just an outlet for competitive golf. The team serves as a way to connect FDNY members and bring a team-oriented and firehouse-like sense of camaraderie back for retired firefighters.
Golf fans may recognize Mascali as the one who gave an inspirational address to the United States team ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup. Mascali is a former collegiate golfer at Quinnipiac University and a celebrated amateur in Staten Island. Introduced to the game by his father and members of his firehouse, Mascali has vivid memories of how his dad’s face would light up when playing golf together. Mascali said when James approached him “about his idea to raise money for The Never Forget Fund and to educate and develop programs for younger generations, it was exactly what he was thinking about.”
By championing initiatives like the FDNY Emerald Society, the Bravest Golf Team and the Never Forget Fund, Mascali and the Dowdell brothers have positively impacted countless families across New York City. This year alone, The Bravest Golf Team played in and won a 144-player tournament against the NYPD, and will soon travel to the Midwest for an event with the Chicago Fire Department. For Mascali, “the hope is to raise more funds and donate to bigger charities, making even greater impacts on people's lives.”
There are few greater examples of heroes than the men and women who lost their lives on September 11th, rushing to scenes of catastrophe to help others. James Dowdell urges people to view the collaboration between Rhoback and the Museum “as a uniquely positive way to honor those who we lost,” and keep their memory alive for future generations.