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| Michael Strahan, Marlo Thomas and Phil Donohue |
Amidst
the flurry of Super Bowl XLVIII events the week leading up up to the NY/NJ Bowl
was the annual Legends for Charity Dinner benefiting St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital New
York City
It
certainly was worth the Battle Park Avenue for
this event, which this year presented Former NYGiant, NFL on Fox Sunday Analyst
and Live with Kelly and Michael co-host Michael Strahan with the Pat Summerall Award. Over 600 people attended with over 400K raised.
Athletes and Celebs Helped Support the Kids
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| Kelly Ripa and Man of the Hour Michael Strahan Photo by Eileen Hillock |
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| NFL Football Hall of Famers |
At
the VIP
Reception off the Empire Ballroom at the Hyatt was a bevy of athletes, sports
figures and recognizable names. Mingling with the crowd which enjoyed a array
of delicious appetizers and a sushi bar were Hall of Famers like Jan Stenerud,
Randall McDaniel, Bobby Bell and Paul Krause. Pro-football players like Dwight
Freeny, Pierre Garcon, Antrel Rolle, Chris Canty and Deon Grant stopped to chat
with everyone.
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| Martha Byrne and Eric Trump |
Emmy-winning actress Martha Byrne, who as a St.
Jude Professional Advisory Board member was on the event committee, was there as well as was her co-star Michael Park from As the World Turns and Broadway.
Eric Trump was also available to talk to the supporters, and I have to say he
was a very nice guy.
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| Emmy Winner Michael Park and wife Laurie |
The
cameras clicked away at the Step and Repeat as Michael Strahan, the legendary Phil
Donohue and wife Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude, later
joined the reception. Michael Strahan’s best shot for the cameras was when he
posed with Ingram Dismuke and other St. Jude’s kids; his smile was genuine.
Once the surf and turf dinner
was served, the presentations began. Rich Eisen, NFL Network Host, was the
Master of Cermonies. Rich Shadyac, CEO of St. Jude, thanked the crowd, as did Cheri
Summerall who spoke of her husband’s legacy and thanked everyone for their
support of the award. Former NFL Players Antonio Pierce and Jessie Armstead both spoke in support of the charity and Strahan.
That Girl Has Something To Say
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| Antonio Pierce, Marlo Thomas and Jessie Armstead |
Marlo Thomas, whose name
is now synonymous with St. Jude, had all eyes on her as she came to the podium.
It was a treat for me, and I am sure many others who grew up watching That
Girl, to see Marlo Thomas. Still looking stunning and full of grace, she exemplified
all that a “Girl” can do, coming from a time where females were just finding
way make a mark in any kind of organization. Marlo has dedicated her life to
this Foundation which her dad, Danny Thomas started, saying that her father
would “just not believe all the people in this room here tonight.”
The
man of the hour Michael Strahan expressed thanks to everyone that presented
before him, acknowledging the video made for him.He thanked Jessie and Antonio
for their kind words and work with St. Jude He also thanked the NFL, the opportunities presented
in his life and the people that surround him on Live. He acknowledged the full
table from ABC at which Kelly and her husband Mike Consuelos sat at. He said
how ‘TV has given me so much versatility. I get to dress up like a girl and
Oprah.”
He referenced the Hall of Famers attending and in general and said what they do and have done “epitomize what the NFL is all abou….it’s about doing your best.”. Then he added. “If I am not invited in after all these presentations it’s going to be ….. AWKWARD!!”
He
also talked about visiting St. Jude’s and being with all the kids. He said that
one would think they would feel sad leaving a place like that, but it was just
the opposite. He said, “You feel better leaving because these kids are amazing.”.
He
also thanked Rich Eisen, whom he called “the man with the golden heart” and
then added, “you get what you give, everyone please remember that.”
Past honorees of the Pat Sumerall award include James Brown, Greg Gumbel, Jim Nantz,
Chris Berman, Cris Collinsworth, The NFL on FOX , Al Michaels
and Archie Manning.
The Story of Ingram Misduke
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| Ingram Dismuke with Michael Strahan |
The
last speaker of the night was the dad of a St. Jude’s kid, Craig Dismuke. His
son Ingram sat next to him on the stage, sitting still and just listening,
acting more well-behaved than you would think any 5 year-old could be capbable of that had to sit
still for more than ten minutes, let alone in front of a crowd would do. One
could not take their eyes off this cute little boy with his fresh face and
puppy-dog eyes.
Craig
talked with emotion about life with his son before and after the diagnosis.
I
remember much of our time was used contemplating what sport he would play, and
then he said, “It was wondering if he would even get to play them.” He said it
was unbelievable how his life “changed in a second.”
He
chronicled how his son’s symptoms lead them to the diagnosis of a rare brain tumor, called ependymoma, which started with little Ingram complaining of headaches.
He
talked about how his son had a CAT scan
and then they got the results they least wanted to hear. He said that he will
never forget that moment. He said, “Ingram was waiting in the back seat of the
car. They had run out of toys at the cat scan place, so all he had was a blue
marker. There was blue marker all over the back seat,” he stated. But the dad
said, “I just remember thinking, any other time this would bother me, but I
just don’t care”.
He
talked about how his son was brave and never complained, just did what he
needed to. He mentioned how after all the treatments were over and he was back
home, he asked his son where he would like to go most in the world. He said
‘St. Jude”. The dad said you just can’t imagine how they make these kids feel.
There
was not a dry eye in the house, but if there was, it was only from the light
the happy little boy sitting next to him was casting over the audience.
To
end the presentation Ingram was lifted up to the microphone to say something.
My guess is that being able to say something was the prize after sitting still
for so long.
Then
Ingram just proudly uttered, “Get your move on.”
No,
you keep on moving, Ingram. This post written by Suzee
Photo Gallery:
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| Rich Eisen and Archie Manning |
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| Oh to be that girl! |
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| Supporter Larry Inserra of Inserra Supermarkets and Actress Martha Byrne of NBC's Crisis |
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| The Trump family is a top supporter of St. Jude's. |
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| Antonio, Cheri Summerall and Jessie |
Havin' fun with Ingram
End Photo Gallery
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