Tom Cruise is raising money for a detox facility that would benefit New York police, firefighters and paramedics of Sept. 11.

Cruise and his wife, Katie Holmes appeared Thursday at a private dinner in Manhattan to raise money for the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project, a program he co-founded in 2002.

The program, based on principles developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, offers free treatment to emergency workers who suffer breathing difficulties and other health problems stemming from exposure to toxins at ground zero after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The program has treated 785 workers since its inception, said director Jim Woodworth. Each worker is given vitamins and nutritional counseling and participates in daily exercise and sauna sessions. The program takes about 30 days to complete, he said.

"He said how grateful he was to everyone for supporting the project," said Patrick Bahnken, president of the New York Fire Department's union of emergency workers and paramedics, told the New York Post.

"He took time out to speak to every person. It took him an hour to get through the hallway. He was talking to everyone. It was genuine, nothing phony about it."

New York City officials say some 400,000 people were exposed to ground zero dust and 71,000 have enrolled in a long-term health monitoring program.