OFFICERS FROM NEW YORK AND L.A. “DUKE IT OUT” FOR CHILDREN OF 9/11

Annual “Heroes and Legends… A Night at the Fights” fundraiser to benefit Tuesday’s Children, a 9/11 non-profit committed to assisting families who lost a loved one on 9/11

(New York City, June 5, 2008)  Boxers from the New York City Police Department will put on their gloves and step inside the ring on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers to duke it out against their counterparts from the Los Angeles Police Department in a thrilling night of boxing benefiting Tuesday’s Children, a nonprofit organization that provides important support services and programs to 9/11 families.

For the fifth consecutive year, the NYPD boxing team will participate in this charity event dubbed “Heroes & Legends … A Night at the Fights.”  Both NYPD and LAPD boxing teams consist of active officers who are also highly trained amateur boxers.  In addition to the eight heart-pounding matches, the evening boasts a “sporting legends” cocktail reception, dinner and live auction.  And before the fights begin, Aleesia Gillis, a fourteen year old Tuesday’s Children family member who lost father from the NYPD Emergency Service Unit on 9/11, will sing the national anthem.  Gillis recently recorded a song dedicated to her mother in memory of her late father which is currently being sold on iTunes.       

Ringside to support the teams will be some of the greatest athletes in the history of their sports including  Jake LaMotta, Junior Jones, Mark Breland, Iran Barkley, Rod Gilbert, referee Arthur Mercante Jr., New York Giants Super Bowl Champion Ahmad Bradshaw, John Franco, and legendary St. John’s University basketball coach Lou Carnesecca.

John Brown, member of the Tuesday’s Children Board and co-chair of the event said, “Almost six years ago, Tuesday’s Children made a solemn commitment to stand with the families of 9/11. Today, we serve thousands of family members – in numbers greater than ever – with new programs to meet their ever changing needs. Our programs provide a lifeline our families can find no where else. Events like Heroes & Legends … A Night at the Fights ensure that Tuesday’s Children will be here for our families until our help is no longer needed.”

At last year’s event, John Fleming, a former NYPD detective, member of the Tuesday’s Children Board and event co-chair reminded the crowd of the sacrifices these officers make on a daily basis.  He said, “Let’s not forget, when these warriors are not in the ring, they are out on the street putting their lives on the line to keep this country safe each and every day.  For this, we owe them a deep debt of gratitude.”

For the past six years, Tuesday’s Children has been committed to providing programs and services to over 5,000 individual family members in the New York tri-state area, Washington DC, and Boston who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.  Because of this growing need, expanded and new services, referrals from other families and continued outreach, program participation is expected to increase by 20 percent this year.

Recently the organization expanded its mandate to include two new initiatives: Tuesday’s Champions, programs and services for the Rescue and Recovery Worker population who spent months on the pile at Ground Zero; and Project Common Bond, an international week-long peace and community building experience for teens from around the world who have lost a family member due to an act of terrorism.

There are various table packages available for purchase, all including an open bar, access to the “Sporting Legends” cocktail hour, sit down dinner, seats to watch the fights, cigars, and listing in the evening’s programs.  For more information on table packages or to purchase individual tickets, please call 212-319-3988.

Tuesday’s Children

Tuesday’s Children is a non-profit family service organization that has made a long-term commitment to every individual who was directly impacted by the events of September 11, 2001.  It provides a wide range of services to individuals and its programming includes mentoring, educational and career guidance, wellness, leadership training and life-management services.  All are designed to address the unmet needs of 9/11 family members at each stage of life and recovery.  Tuesday’s Children has expanded with two initiatives: Tuesday’s Champions, which provides programs and services for all the Rescue and Recovery Workers and First Responders from Ground Zero; and Project Common Bond, a unique international week-long experience for teens from around the world who have lost a parent through an act of terrorism.  To learn more about the programs of Tuesday’s Children, visit the website at www.tuesdayschildren.org  or call 212-319-3988.

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