Make an Impact

New York Athletic Club, NY

At the NY Athletic Club, Dick Lynch, the author of "Connect the Dots...To Become An Impact Player", and founder of the Impact Player Hall of Fame, presented the inaugural citations to some remarkable persons. His vision as expressed in his book inspired this first ever ceremony, and the Impact Player Partners , an organization that teams up professional athletes with veterans who are now disabled from Iraq and Afghanistan..

Both sportsmen and veterans attended the moving ceremony. He said: "we celebrate the achievements of men and women everywhere, who have impacted the quality of life for all". These presentations were given to Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Jackie Robinson, Dick Traum and Eugene Thurman Upshaw, Jr. and Christian Okoye.

Jackie Robinson had said "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives". His grandson accepted the award thanking the wounded veterans who attended and said " I will open a restaurant in Brooklyn called 42's, in honor of my grandfather. It will be American Cuisine and you are all invited to the opening".

Sitting in the audience was the dissabled veteran from Afghanistan Sergeant Roy Mitchell, wearing his purple heart, a medal, started by President George Washington, and happy to be back from the war. He had met President Hamid Karzai before he returned to the United States to attend the evening ceremony. Although wounded, he said "I am proud to serve my country, it's part of the job".

Arthur Ashe's niece accepted on his behalf and told us how her uncle had also written a newspaper column for the Washington Post and published a 3-volume history of blacks in sports called "A Hard Road to Glory". This was after winning the U.S. Open and the 1970 Australian Open and the Wimbledon singles, the first black male to accomplish that.

Sitting at dinner, we heard wonderful stories of recipient Dick Traum, who founded the Archilles Track Club. Loosing a leg didn't stop him from long-distance running. In fact, he is the first leg amputee in the world to complete a marathon. He said" loosing a leg was just a little bump on the road of life". His successful organization was having a race in Central Park, the very next day. Racing would also be bicyclists, and hand-cranked wheelchairs. The President, Mary Bryant, encouraged her brother to run because he is "my hero".

Mr. T. Rooney would also participate the very next day in this wonderful organization which provides bi-weekly training programs for disadvantaged children with disabilities , disabled senior and provides eye surgery for blind runners

Gene Upshaw of the Oakland Raiders was the only player ever to start on championship teams in both the AFl and NFl. Clark Gaines accepted the award for him and spoke about going to Indian reservations to encourage youngsters to become athletes.

Arnold Palmer, who could not attend, wrote "I am looking forward to receiving the award from one of those brave soldiers who has not allowed his personal injury to stop him from continuing his fight for our personal freedoms".

Christian Okoye's foundation hosts free athletic clinics where well-known professional athletes coach the kids - the foundation's motto is "Education ,Ideas and Sports". Many Olympic athletes donate their time to act as coaches and mentors to this organization which also brings in the business aspects of work. This organization reaches almost 10,000 children a year.

Mayor Bloomberg wrote "I congratulate the outstanding athletes being inducted into the Impact Player Hall of Fame and I am especially pleased to recognize our hometown heroes Derek Jeter and Dick Traum. You are more than worthy of this recognition that pays tribute to not only the lasting contributions you have made to your sport, but also your commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. I am certain Arthur Ashe and Jackie Robinson would have been proud to stand with you today and I acknowledge their family members for accepting this honor on their behalf."

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