New Haven, CT, January 22, 2010 - St. Vincent's SWIM Across the Sound 5th Annual Sports Gala unveiled an exciting lineup of sports celebrities on January 20th at Anthony's Ocean View in New Haven. The event, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut, benefited state and local police, firefighters, EMS personnel, correction officers and their families throughout the state, who are battling cancer.
Bobby Valentine, ESPN baseball analyst and former manager of the New York Mets and the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan, returned as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Joe Pepitone, former first baseman for the New York Yankees had the audience in stitches during his keynote address in which he recalled playing with Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford. Along with him, Frank "Porky" Vieira, one of the most-winning baseball coaches in NCAA history; Walt Luckett, New England's all-time high school basketball scoring leader and Nick Giaquinto, Super Bowl champion and head baseball coach at Sacred Heart University entertained the crowd with sports commentary.
The David Felner Caregiver Award went to Corrections Officer Dana Michele of the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institute in Suffield, CT. Michele donated his time, expertise and equipment to build a backyard patio and fire pit with landscaping for Corrections Officer Tim Richard of the Carl Robinson Correctional Institution and his family. Last July, Richard was diagnosed with a malignant glioma, a form of brain cancer, at the same time that his wife AnnMarie was beginning her battle with two forms of ovarian cancer.
St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, the organization that coordinates the SWIM Across the Sound and celebrated the opening of the new Elizabeth Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care on January 23rd, also presented the Bobby Valentine Humanitarian Award to five recipients this year. Three firefighters from Trumbull's Long Hill Fire Department Adam Silverstone of Monroe, Frank Novak of Trumbull and Lieutenant Greg SanFanAndre of Trumbull were the first to arrive on the scene of a deadly five-care accident at the intersection of Routes 111 and 25. It was their quick-thinking and bravery that saved the life of a 12-year-old girl, one of the accident victims. Brandon Josephs and Katie Walewski, police explorers from Fairfield, were also presented with the award for the extreme amount of compassion they showed for a cancer patient.
The Sports Gala raised more than $100,000 for Connecticut's First Responders and Correction Officers and their families with cancer.
Media Inquiries: Kristin Jones at (203) 576-6431 or krjones@stvincents.org
Photo Caption: (clockwise from top left) Ronald J. Bianchi, president, St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation and corporate senior vice president, St. Vincent's Health Services; Nick Giaquinto, head baseball coach, Sacred Heart University and Super Bowl champion; Walt Luckett, New England's all-time high school basket ball scoring leader; Bobby Valentine, ESPN baseball analyst and former manager of the New York Mets and Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan; Guest Speaker Joe Pepitone, former New York Yankee and World Series champion and Frank "Porky" Vieira, one of the most-winning baseball coaches in NCAA history gathered for a cause at the St. Vincent's SWIM Across the Sound 5th Annual Sports Gala and Auction held on January 20th at Anthony's Ocean View in New Haven. All proceeds from the event, which raised more than $100,000, benefited Connecticut's career and volunteer fire and EMS personnel, state and local police, correction officers and their families with cancer. The event is underwritten by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Connecticut. For more information about St. Vincent's SWIM Across the Sound, call (203) 576-5451 or visit www.swimacrossthesound.org.
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