On
Monday night, November 24, 2008 the Randall's
Island Sports Foundation (RISF) hosted the Champions for Children
Gala at The Plaza Hotel in New York. A high-profile crowd of New
York politicians and philanthropists gathered to support the Foundation's
mission to revitalize Randall's Island Park into the ultimate
sports and recreation destination for New York City and to provide
free programming for over 14,000 children from the Island's
neighboring communities of East Harlem and the South Bronx. Over
400 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and dinner in the Grand Ballroom.
Otis Livingston, the evening's Master of Ceremonies, kept the
crowd lively and introduced the night's key-note speakers.
Howard W. Lutnick, chairman and CEO, Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. and
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Welles were Gala chairs. Kenneth J. Podziba,
NYC Sports Commissioner was honorary gala chair.
The program began with a surprise guest appearance from Saturday
Night Live comedian, Darrell Hammond, who delivered punchy political
jokes and excellent impersonations of John McCain and Bill Clinton.
He then presented Mayor Michael Bloomberg with a special Sport
of the City Award – a pair of custom NIKE sneakers specially
designed in New York State's official colors of blue and orange.
The first honoree of the evening was former Olympic medalist and
Captain of the U.S Women's National Soccer Team, Kristine Lilly,
who received the Sports Leadership Award from tennis legend,
Billie Jean King. The second honoree was Wendy Paulson, Chair,
RARE; Trustee, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and wife of U.S.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. Mrs. Paulson received the Environmental
Steward Award presented by John Flicker, President of the Audubon
Society. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton presented the third
and final award of the night to her friend, Susan Patricof, Founder
of the Susan Patricof Head Start Center in Harlem, with the Youth
Leadership Award. The event raised $850,000 for the Randall's
Island Sports Foundation.
Guests included: U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton,
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson
and wife Mrs. Wendy Paulson, Billie Jean King, SNL creator, Lorne
Michaels and SNL comedian; Darrell Hammond, Former New York Mayor,
David Dinkins, Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, NYC Parks Commissioner
Adrian Benepe, Randall's Island Sports Foundation Chairman
Rich Davis, Randall's Island Sports Foundation President and
Founder Karen Cohen, and Randall's Island Sports Foundation
Board members: Patricia A. Begley, Rodney Cohen, Susan Danilow, Jerome
L. Goldman, Sunil K. Gulati, Dean I. Landis, Nancy F. Neff, Bimla
Picot, Elizabeth Sawyer Press, Patricia W. Shifke, Waide Warner.
