Joe DiMaggio Lives on in Support of Students with Learning Disabilities
Not many people knew this about Joe DiMaggio - the baseball legend had a thing for students with learning disabilities.
He even has an award gala in his memory - The Joe DiMaggio Award Gala - a major fundraiser for Xaverian High and its program for students with learning disabilities. Established in 1999 after the Yankee Clipper's death, the Joe DiMaggio Award was started by its chairman, Dr. Rock Positano, along with the approval of the DiMaggio Estate. It's mission is to memorialize his "lifelong commitment to the health, education and well being of America's youth."
The major fundraiser is for Xaverian's Ryken Education Center, a place where students with learning disabilities get help.
"This has become the preeminent education gala in the United States. The Legacy Program is benefited this year, an intensive and self-contained program running next to the mainstream. This program is created for students with learning disabilities," said Board member Rocco Basile.
Adopted by the New York State Regents as the model of all such endeavors, since the Ryken Program's inception in 1994 (it was formerly known as the REACH Program), over 100 young men have graduated from this special initiative and all have gone on to four-year colleges.
Four students recently received scholarships to major New York-Metropolitan area universities, said Basile.
Since Xaverian is private and tuition driven, proceeds from the Gala will especially benefit its many students. Besides the dinner and awards presentation, the evening includes a silent auction of rare Joe DiMaggio memorabilia donated by the DiMaggio Estate and Morris Engelberg, Esq.
Bay Ridge school's highest honor, formerly called the Concordia Award, was given to DiMaggio back in 1997. The award has since been presented to Dr. Maestro Luciano Pavarotti, Henry Kissinger, television personality Regis Philbin, singer/songwriter Paul Simon, Sopranos star James Gandolfini, CBS Sports commentator Boomer Esiason, NBC Emmy-Award winning sports broadcaster Bob Costas and former mayor and current presidential hopeful Rudolph Giuliani.
Most recently on January 4, 2008, Brooklyn's Xaverian High School presented the recently retired Giants running back, Tiki Barber with its coveted Joe DiMaggio Award. The "Today Show" commentator and analyst on NBC's "Football Night in America," was honored in Manhattan at Cipriani restaurant.
During an illustrious 10-year playing career, Barber, three-time Pro-Bowler, set virtually every career offensive record for the Giants and is best known for team records of 10,448 rushing yards, 586 receptions and 15,631 total yards from scrimmage.
About the Author
Writing about non-profits for over 20 years, Kristin Gabriel has taken an interest in the work being done by Children of the City and the Joe DiMaggio Committee (http://www.joedimmagioaward.com ) for Xaverian High School and their Board Member Rocco Basile.
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