St. Jude supporter Michael Strahan received the ninth annual Pat Summerall Award
Former Super Bowl champion Michael Strahan, a noted supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and spokesperson for St. Jude Game Day. Give Back., received the ninth annual Pat Summerall Award at the Legends for Charity Dinner in New York City on January 30.
Nearly 600 people attended the dinner where Strahan received recognition for his contributions to sports broadcasting. The event, held at the NFL Headquarters Hotel, the Grand Hyatt, also raised $400,000 for the kids of St. Jude. Celebrity guests included St. Jude national outreach director Marlo Thomas, her husband Phil Donahue, Strahan's television co-host Kelly Ripa and her husband, actor Mark Consuelos, and current and former New York Giants Chris Snee, Antonio Pierce and Jessie Armstead. NFL Network sportscaster Rich Eisen served as the event emcee.
Strahan is a major advocate for St. Jude, volunteering his time to star in national television commercials and public service announcements to support the hospital’s lifesaving mission, including serving as a spokesperson for St. Jude Game Day. Give Back., which allows supporters to host a football watch party for the big game on February 2 and help save lives.
During his football career, Strahan recorded 141.5 sacks over 15 seasons, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team (2000s), and won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants. Following his athletic career, Strahan found success away from the field as an analyst for “FOX NFL Sunday” and as co-host of the popular nationally-syndicated talk show, “LIVE with Kelly and Michael.”
Dinner guests also heard the story of St. Jude patient Ingram, 5, who is cancer-free following his treatment at St. Jude for the rare brain tumor ependymoma. Ingram still returns to St. Jude for regular check-ups.
Other special guests included two members of the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors: Paul Wein and Jim Barkate. St. Jude supporters Eric Trump and Michael Lynch, who are members of the ALSAC Professional Advisory Council, and Martha Byrne McMahon, a member of the ALSAC Leadership Council, also attended. ALSAC is the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude.
Returning as the event's title sponsor this year was the Yokota Foundation. Live auction items at the dinner included two Super Bowl tickets from NFL On Location and luxury travel packages to the Four Seasons Resort Nevis in the Caribbean and the One & Only Ocean Club Bahamas from Tzell Travel.
You can show your support for St. Jude during the big game on February 2 by hosting a football watch party that helps save lives.
January 2014