2003 Michael S. Modell Awards Dinner
To Benefit Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s Greater NY Chapter
Wed, Dec. 10, 2003
Sheraton, New York, NY
 NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2003 - - One of the world’s most influential sports television executives, a members of a family who have dedicated themselves to charitable and compassionate causes and a physician rated among the leaders in his field were all honored at the 2003 Michael S. Model Awards to benefit the Greater New York Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) Wednesday night.
Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Sport & NBC Olympics, received the Dick Schaap Lifetime Achievement Award in Sports at the function, which was held at the Sheraton, NY Hotel (811 7th Avenue at 53rd Street) while the Kerr Family (Dr. Benjamin G. Kerr, Michael H. Kerr, Joshua A. Kerr and Zachary M. Kerr), were presented with the Michael S. Modell Humanitarian Award. In addion, the Outstanding Physician of the Year Award went to Dr. Joel Bauer of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.
WNBC-TV’s Dr. Max Gomez served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, while the station’s weekend sports anchor, Bruce Beck, again conducted the live auction. And the CCFA has again acquired the participation of former Governor Mario Cuomo to be an award presenter.
For the past 36 years, the CCFA’s Greater NY Chapter has hosted a sports-themed Dinner to honor exemplary sports, business and medical leaders who have made contribution to our country, to their community and to this cause. In 2003, the function was re-named in memory of Michael S. Model, the son of Shelby and Bill Model, philanthropists and patriarchs of the Modell’s Sporting Goods chain. Michael passed away shortly before the 2001 event from Crohn’s-related illnesses.
The Greater NY Chapter, which serves all five boroughs of New York City, secures donations and produces numerous fundraising events each year, which help support CCFA-sponsored research and educational programs. In addition, it offers its members coping workshops, education seminars, mutual-help support groups, and a variety of informative publications. Funds raised at this function will sponsor research to find the medical cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. CCFA was founded in 1967 by Irwin and Suzanne Rosenthal, Dr.Henry Janowitz and Modells.
Among the sports heroes who are scheduled to be at the dinner art Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath; Hockey Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert; former NY Jets stars Freeman McNeil, Wesley Walker and Bruce Harper; Super Bowl XXV MVP O.J. Anderson; retired NFL place kick Rolf Benirschke; legendary Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Ralph Branca; former NY Islanders right wing Bobby Nystrom; one-time boxer Chuck Wepner; Pro Football Hall of Famer Mke Haynes; and Art Shamsky, a member of the ’69 Mets World Champions.
For information about the organization, visit www.ccfa.org
The event was a very high level event. Former Governor of New York State Mario Cuomo made a presentation of the Dick Schaap Lifetime Achievement Award to Dick Ebersol, Chairman of NYC Sports & NBC Olympics, after explaining to the audience what kind of stringent requirements need to be fulfilled in order for someone to be eligible to receive this award. In his acceptance, Mr. Ebersol thanked everyone for thsir support, and spoke briefly about different highlights throughout this career, and also spoke briefly about the XFL, jokingly taking the blame for it . Joe Namath also spoke to the audience, recapping and reminiscing on his football days and the 1969 Superbowl. Shelby Modell, the wife of the late Michael Modell, gave the audience a warm welcome to the event and then talked about how she never expected the Kerr Family and their humanitarian works could be so intricately woven into her own life.
Overall, it was a great event. We want to thank Mr. Mitchell Modell, the CEO of Modells, for giving us the opportunity to cover this event. Without his assistance, it would have never been possible to Not only is he a very successful business man, in the United States, but a great humanitarian which we can all learn from, from the work he’s done for the Crohn’s Foundation, helping thousands of people throughout the U.S. via CCFA.
Anyone who would like more information on the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America may visit their website at www.ccfa.org.
Abbey H. Muneer is the Executive Director of H.A.D. Organization of New York City, Inc., a world-famous athlete, author and, above all, a humanitarian. Abbey will write articles about charity events, benefits, fundraisers and galas which are raising money for humantiarian causes. If you are interested in having Abbey and one his staff members cover one of your charity events, benefits, fundraisers or galas, feel free to notify us one week in advance, at LNEvents@hadofnyc.org, or telephone us at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. and ask to speak to Abbey or Maria. If you would like more information, or would like to have Liberty News Online Magazine consult your next charitable event, please feel free to visit our website, at http://www.hadofnyc.org/store/success.html, email us at humanitarians@hadofnyc.org, or telephone our hotline, at (718) 507-7616, between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm e.s.t. (U.S.A.) |
