(September 7, 2023) – What do NY Giants and NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer and TV personality Michael Strahan; Five-time Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Missy Franklin, world hockey champion Zdeno Chara; Five-time All-Star and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Thome; Two-time Super Bowl champion and NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Little; Team US Men’s National Team goalkeeper and United Soccer League Champion Tim Howard, U.S. Open Champion, FedEx Cup Champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year golfer Jim Furyk as well as Big East Conference Commissioner, first WNBA President, and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Val Ackerman all have in common? While they have all excelled at their respective sports, they now join a singular iconic group. Indeed, these outstanding sports professionals, Hall of Famers, Gold Medalists, World Champions, and boldface names will be honored in person by The Buoniconti Fund at its 38th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner, presented by The Tudor Group and The Mack family, on Monday, October 16th at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square, New York.
In addition to the Sports Legends, Grammy Award Winning Superstar Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull) will receive the 2023 Buoniconti Fund Award.
Music icon, philanthropist, eight-time Grammy Award Winner and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree Gloria Estefan, whose connection to The Buoniconti Fund dates back more than three decades when she suffered a severe spinal cord injury in a tour bus accident, is the Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.
There will also be a special Live Performance by Three-time Grammy Award Winner Ne-Yo.
The dinner, chaired by Mark Dalton, chairman and CEO of the Tudor Investment Corporation, will benefit The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, the fundraising arm of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. The Miami Project, a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, is the world’s premier spinal cord injury research center targeting traumatic spinal cord and brain injury and other neurological disorders and diseases.
The high-profile dinner, presented by The Tudor Group and The Mack family, annually attracts a veritable “Who’s Who” of more than 800 sports legends, celebrities, philanthropists, corporate leaders and influential notables from New York and Miami.
It also features a spectacular silent auction, which is already open online and can be viewed at www.bidpal.net/gsld2023 The auction features one-of-a-kind autographed sports memorabilia, travel and experiences, electronics, autographed memorabilia, kidz korner, magnificent jewelry, and much more. There is also a Buy It Now Store online with no bidding necessary. Additional items will be added daily so be sure to check back often. Auction closes on Monday, October 16th at 9pm EST.
“The 38th installment of the Great Sports Legends Dinner boasts a spectacular line-up of sports champions and honorees who are as committed as we are to standing up for those who can’t,” said Marc Buoniconti, Buoniconti Fund President. “I have never been more excited about the future of The Miami Project’s research and discoveries and thanks to the funds raised at The Great Sports Legends Dinner, we will be able to take another step forward to find a cure for paralysis and other neurological diseases.”
The 38th annual Great Sports Legends Dinner is held in memory of longtime Buoniconti Fund Board Member, generous philanthropist and devoted supporter of The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Paul J. DiMare. Additional sponsors include the Legends Reception Sponsor Badia Spices and supporting event sponsor, the Thomas E. Smith Foundation.
Since its inception in 1985, the Great Sports Legends Dinner has honored nearly 400 sports legends and humanitarians and has raised more than $130 million for The Miami Project’s spinal cord injury research programs. The Miami Project-Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis is committed to finding a cure for paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury and to seeing millions worldwide walk again.
Past Legends and Honorees include: Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus, Wayne Gretzky, Phil Collins, Andre Agassi, David Ortiz, Simone Biles, Willie Mays, Buzz Aldrin, Tony Hawk, Cal Ripken, Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, Mia Hamm, Magic Johnson, Dorothy Hamill, Julio Iglesias, Dwyane Wade, Helio Castroneves, Dan Marino, Joe DiMaggio, Mario Andretti, Dr. Maya Angelou, Mike Piazza, John McEnroe, Jorge Posada, Bob Costas, John Elway, Pat Riley, Lindsey Vonn, Kelly Slater, Joe Torre and many other athletes and heroes who recognize that paralyzing injuries can and do occur in the pursuit of athletic careers and everyday lives.
The 38th Annual Great Sports Legends Dinner begins at 5:30 PM at the Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway. Tickets start at $1500 per person and can be purchased by calling Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard at (305)-243-6385 or https://bit.ly/GSLD23.
For more information about The Buoniconti Fund, please visit: www.TheBuonicontiFund.com. To take part in the conversation on social media, follow us on Facebook at @cureparalysis – Instagram @TheMiamiProject – Twitter @BuonicontiFund using hashtags #SportsLegendsDinner and #CureParalysis #StandUpForThoseWhoCant.