***AHRC-New York City Foundation to Present Honor which remembers the late, great Yankee captain and catcher***
Olympic Gold Medalist Evan Lysacek, the first American to capture the men’s figure skating crown since 1988, will be honored with the prestigious Thurman Munson Award at the 31st annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner on Tuesday night, February 1, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, it was announced today. The USA’s surprise hero of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games will join an impressive trio of New York baseball stars, Yankees All-Star outfielder Nick Swisher, Mets centerfielder Angel Pagan, former Mets All-Star catcher Mike Piazza, and New Jersey Nets All-Star Devin Harris as the “Class of 2011.” The gala benefits the AHRC-New York City Foundation, and remembers the late, great Yankees catcher and captain.
For tickets and information on the Munson Awards Dinner contact 212-249-6188.
Diana Munson, Thurman’s widow, will attend the gala, and has been involved in the benefit since its inception, raising nearly $10 million to assist children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The AHRC New York City Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that supports programs enabling children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives, including programs of AHRC New York City. AHRC New York City is one of the largest organizations of its kind, serving 11,000 children and adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries and other disabilities.
Lysacek, 25, became an unexpected hero the USA’s 2010 Vancouver Olympics, winning a gold medal in the men’s figure skating competition, upending the favored Evgeni Plushenko of Russia. After placing second in the short program, Lysacek won the free skate program with a score of 167.37, surpassing Plushenko to take the gold. The Illinois native became the USA’s first man to win in this category since Brian Boitano in 1988. In his only other Olympic appearance, he had just missed the podium, finishing fourth at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy. He is a member of the board of Figure Skating in Harlem, which teaches girls academic and life skills through ice skating, and serves on the celebrity board of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which aims to improve the health and well-being of children.
Lysacek also placed first in the 2008-09 World Championships, and won back-to-back U.S. World Titles in 2006-07 and 2008-09. He also holds two titles in the Four Continents Championships, and one apiece in the Grand Prix Finals, Skate America, and the Cup of China. Lysacek currently holds the №1 ranking in the world by the International Skating Union, an honor he gained in April of 2010.
The list of notable athletes to previously receive the Munson Award reads like a sports “Who’s Who,” and includes: Olympians – Donna de Varona (swimming), Dorothy Hamill (figure skating), Paul Hamm (gymnast), Kristi Yamaguchi (figure skating), Nancy Kerrigan (figure skating), Carl Lewis (track and field), Carly Patterson (gymnast), and Dwight Stones (men's high jump); Yankees – Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Willie Randolph, Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada, Robby Cano, Bernie Williams, Bobby Murcer, Joe Torre and Joe Girardi; Mets – Tom Seaver, John Franco, Darryl Strawberry, Ron Darling, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Keith Hernandez, Rusty Staub and Gary Carter; Basketball – Willis Reed, Oscar Robertson, Jason Kidd, Dave DeBusschere, Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Earl Monroe, Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, Allan Houston and John Starks.
Honored for athletic excellence and community service…
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