Whom You Know: Sports & philanthropic heroes are honored at the 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis: A Phenomenal Cause Says Whom You Know

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sports & philanthropic heroes are honored at the 24th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis: A Phenomenal Cause Says Whom You Know

2009 GREAT SPORTS LEGENDS DINNER HOSTED BY BOB COSTAS

TROY AIKMAN, CLYDE DREXLER, MIKE PIAZZA, IVAN LENDL, RUSTY WALLACE, BRETT HULL, DARA TORRES, PAT DAY, CHRIS WADDELL ALL IN ATTENDANCE

Stewart Rahr, Adrienne Arsht, Jack Schneider and Dr. Maya Angelou Also Honored

Last night at the Waldorf Astoria, sports & philanthropic heroes were honored at the 24^th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner to benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis and exemplified the love that a father has for his son.

In 1985, Barth A. Green, M.D. and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Nick Buoniconti helped found The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after Nick’s son, Marc, sustained a spinal cord injury during a college football game. Today, The Miami Project is the world's largest, most comprehensive spinal cord injury research center and is housed in the Lois Pope LIFE Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The Miami Project's international team of over 200 scientists and clinicians take innovative approaches to the challenge of spinal cord injury. Committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again, the Buoniconti family established The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis in 1992, a non-profit organization devoted to assisting The Miami Project achieve its national and international goals.

The Buoniconti Fund serves as the fundraising arm of The Miami Project. It is designed to complement the scientific accomplishments of The Miami Project by generating funds and high levels of awareness. For more info, check out www.thebuonicontifund.com. Peachy Deegan was honored to cover this remarkable event and encourages you all to support this worthy cause.

NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti, his son Marc Buoniconti, Dr. Barth Green, Master of Ceremonies Bob Costas, sports legends Troy Aikman, Clyde Drexler, Mike Piazza, Ivan Lendl, Rusty Wallace, Brett Hull, Dara Torres, Pat Day, Chris Waddell, Law & Order’s Anthony Anderson, Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Assassination of a High School President and new HBO series Boardwalk Empire’s Vincent Piazza, One Live To Live’s Crystal Hunt, will all walk the red carpet which began at 5:30PM, followed by dinner at 7:30PM. An outstanding silent auction took place simultaneously with the red carpet, and was amazingly well-run as during the dinner lists were distributed to tables with items still available. The live auction included a Notre Dame Home Game Package, a Threesome to Play at Augusta National Golf Course, the opportunity to play golf with Jack Nicklaus, a Four Seasons Hawaiian Vacation for Two, and the All New MV-1. During the dinner, a $3 million dollar gift was generously given we believe by Edie Laquer.

Additionally, President, CEO and sole owner of Kinray Stewart Rahr received the 2009 Outstanding Philanthropist Award, Chairman Emerita of TotalBank Adrienne Arsht received the 2009 Buoniconti Fund Award, Managing Director, Allen & Company, Chairman of The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis Jack Schneider received The Barth A. Green Spirit Award and Writer, African-American activist and educator Dr. Maya Angelou received the 2009 Buoniconti Fund Humanitarian Award.

Other athletes and VIP guests in attendance at the event include: NFL NY Giants Hall of Famer Harry Carson, Sportscaster from CBS Lesley Visser, 1968 Olympic Long Jump Medalist Bob Beamon, 10 x Olympic Medalist in Swimming Gary Hall, Jr, MLB Great Rusty Staub, Captain of the 1980 Miracle on Ice Team Mike Eruzione, Miami Dolphin Quarterback Earl Morrall, NY Giants Great Brian Kelly, Former WNBA All-Star with the NY Liberty Kym Hampton (a featured Mover and Shaker on Whom You Know), Former Miami Dolphin Nat Moore, Former MLB Player with the Mets and Yankees Phil Linz, Former Miami Dolphin Tommy Vigorito, Former Miami DolphinDick Anderson, NYC Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba, NY Jets Linebacker Greg Buttle, Former Race Car Driver Brendan Gaughan and others.

The August 24 edition of Sports Illustrated recently covered the rehabilitation of Marc Buoniconti.

Peachy Deegan enjoyed meeting:

Leslie Visser (Go BC!)

Rev. Philip De Rea, MSC (Although he is a Notre Dame fan, Peachy thinks he will cheer for BC on the 24th perhaps)

Brett Hull

Rusty Wallace

Delcour Potter

John Micale

Aaron Cohen

Peter Cooley

Julie Banderas

Jean Tang

Scott Clark

An outstanding performance by BWR Public Relations in executing a flawless event that was enjoyed by all in attendance! Whom You Know looks forward to our continuing coverage of such a great cause and learning of the scientific advancements that will cure spinal cord injuries.

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