Paul Skenes likes to joke that his first-ever dream job, before baseball or flying planes, was to become a firefighter.
Perhaps that’s why Skenes enjoys this stuff so much. Or maybe it's the opportunity to help a worthy cause.
(OK, it's probably a mix of both.)
Backed by support from the Gary Sinise Foundation and Sunbelt Rentals, Skenes visited the Berkeley Hills Fire Company in the North Hills on Monday, presenting an equipment grant for $41,266 that will be used to buy a pair of hydraulic rescue tools.
Along with presenting a giant check, Skenes visited with and thanked everyone, toured the facility, served a BBQ lunch provided by Operation BBQ Relief and afterward got a little choked up by how much these men and women sacrifice.
“They’re volunteers. That’s a heavy thing,” Skenes said. “I think a lot of people probably don’t realize that.
"They volunteered to essentially give their life if necessary to help everybody in their community. That’s not something anybody should take for granted. It’s great to give them what they need to do their job.”
The event was the latest in a long line of these types of events for Skenes, who has been donating $100 per strikeout this season ($17,500 so far) while increasing his goal for individual and collective contributions in 2026 to $150,000.
While Skenes loves to support the Sinise Foundation however he can, he really enjoys events like the one on Monday, where he gets to meet the people who directly benefit from money or equipment donated.
Especially in his adopted home city.
“The folks here could be helping out some of the people who are coming to our games,” Skenes said. “I live here. I like it here. It’s a nice community with great people. I think it’s always important to give time to those folks.”
While Skenes can certainly be intense around the baseball field, these events show his lighter, deeper side.
On Monday, he personally greeted everyone there and thanked them for what they do. Posing for pictures and signing autographs … yeah, as many as anyone wanted. Just as long as Skenes got to goof around and pretend to drive the truck.
Yes, seriously. With the fire company’s pet pit bull, named Hank, in the back seat.
For a few minutes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner was just a big kid, geeked that he was able to enter a world he respects a bunch.
“Obviously it’s a little more significant with the 25th anniversary of 9/11 coming up,” Skenes said. “But it’s always important to recognize the folks that volunteer to protect everybody in this country.”
After honking the horn a few times, Skenes toured the fire company’s museum, asking questions about how things about how Berkeley Hills has evolved and what running an entirely volunteer fire house entails.
Skenes compared it to the Long Blue Line at Air Force, a way for those who’ve passed through to remain connected. He said it’s just another reason why he has so much reverence for first responders, people who've literally responded to the needs of their job regardless of the types of tools available.
“This fire house has actually been around longer than the Air Force Academy,” Skenes said. “There’s a rich history of people who have volunteered to protect their community and do what’s necessary to look out for everybody. When you see the faces and the things they used — the ax or jump net — it makes it more real.”
Jack Morgan, who’s the president of the Berkeley Hills Fire Company, said the hydraulic rescue tools will help with forcible entry into buildings and to reach victims faster while also ensuring safety for volunteers. They'll also assist in minor vehicle extrication “when every second matters.”
“This generous grant is more than an investment in equipment,” Morgan said. “It’s an investment in the safety of our firefighters and the residents we serve.”
Since its 2011 inception, the Sinise Foundation has fulfilled over 970 grants to purchase more than 22,000 pieces of equipment for first responders all over the country. The partnership with Sunbelt started in 2016, and this year Sunbelt provided $611,000 in grants.
Tara Fletcher (Director of Sustainability and Social Responsibility) and Chrissy Kreisel (Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations) represented Sunbelt and the Sinise Foundation, respectively. Each echoed similar sentiments as Skenes: It’s a team effort, they're thrilled to do it, and nobody can thank first responders enough.
Meanwhile, Skenes might’ve been the happiest person there. He joked with everyone coming through the line while serving food, poking fun at his own cooking and then making sure to get the apron to take home when he was done — yes, he saves them.
It’s just one small snapshot into how much Skenes cares about this stuff.
“Being a baseball player is cool and all that, but it’s also important to remember that there’s a lot more important stuff going on than a Major League season,” Skenes said.
“I know it’s small in the grand scheme of things. But these men and women give so much to protect their community. It’s important we give them everything they need to do their jobs. That’s a lot bigger than baseball.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.