Kristi receives Munson Award for success on the field of play and work within the community
An outstanding lineup of five sports stars - New York Mets All-Star third base man David Wright, New York Yankees starting centerfielder Melky Cabrera, Houston Astros all-time great and Long Island native Craig Biggio, New York Knicks sharpshooter Jamal Crawford, and Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi - will be honored on Tuesday night, February 5, at the 28th annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The AHRC New York City Foundation (http://www.ahrcnyc.org/) benefits from the gala which remembers the late, great Yankee catcher and captain Thurman Munson, who died tragically in a 1979 plane crash.
For tickets and information on the Munson Awards Dinner contact 212-249-6188.
The quality quintet will all receive "Thurmans" for their success on the field of play and their work within the community.
Diana Munson, Thurman's widow, has been involved in the benefit since its inception, raising nearly $8 million to assist children and adults with developmental disabilities. Those honorees will be receiving Munson Awards for their excellence in competition and their philanthropic work within the community.
Len Berman of NBC Sports will once again serve as the master of ceremonies.
The Munson Awards Dinner has previously honored such notables as Willie Randolph, Mariano Rivera, Muhammad Ali, Yogi Berra, Goose Gossage, Don Mattingly, Jorge Posada, Joe Torre, Patrick Ewing, Bernie Williams, Arthur Ashe, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Willie Mays, Mark Messier, Mike Richter, Tom Seaver and John Franco, just to name a few.
Chesapeake, Virginia native Wright is a two time All Star and mainstay on the left side of the Mets infield. the Mets first round selection in the amateur draft is known for his work ethic and community service; Cabrera, a native of the Dominican Republic, hit .320 since taking over as a starter in 2007; Smithtown, Long Island native Biggio is a seven time All Star wgi played his entire 20-year career with the Astros, amassing 3,000 hits; California native Yamaguchi brought home the gold for America in the 1992 Winter Olympics; and Seattle native Crawford, out of the University of Michigan, is averaging 19 ppg as the Knicks shooting guard.
The AHRC New York City Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports programs enabling children and adults with developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives, including programs of AHRC New York City. AHRC New York City is one of the largest organizations of its kind, serving 11,000 children and adults who have mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other developmental disabilities