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| Franco Harris, David Cone, Darryl Strawberry, Roy White and Mickey Rivers |
The Yankees might have been away in Toronto Monday evening, but the stadium was filled with spirit, the spirit of giving. The Delta 360 Club inside Yankee Stadium played hosted to the Ultimate Yankee Stadium Experience which benefited the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation. The Franciscan Sisters tirelessly devote their lives to help the poor and less fortunate. Supporters that evening were treated to a fabulous tour of Yankee Stadium and the opportunity to mingle with Yankee heroes such as David Cone, Mickey Rivers, Darryl Strawberry, Roy White, Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris and New York Knicks announcer John Andariese.
The former athletes were more than eager to lend their support to work of the foundation. David Cone expressed his gratitude for being involved with the evening's events.
“I'm honored to be here, I know they do great work. Any celebrity we can lend that can help sell tickets or raise a little more money is great.”
Darryl Strawberry shared similar sentiments.
“I'm excited to be here. I do a lot of charity work myself and I know the importance of what they do. It's for a good cause. Any time you come out it's a blessing to be able to help.”
John Andariese, the famed Knicks announcer, who is on the board of the foundation, explained how the work of the Sisters with his aunt brought him into the fold.
“I've had a long relationship with them that goes back about 20 years. My aunt became indigent many years ago. I was desperate to get her settled in a place where she would be comfortable to finish her life out. I started working hard at finding a place where she could live with dignity. I succeeded in doing that, finding a home and hospital in Westchester. She didn't have money, and yet they took care of her on her social security for the last two years of her life. I stayed with the organization after she passed and I am so respectful for these nuns who give their lives to those who have nothing. Today there are 150 nuns around the world giving their lives to this. I am able to get help in the sports world; people like sports and it gathers crowds and helps people to spend some money to do some charity work. That's why we're here tonight.”
Monday's event was more than an opportunity to tour Yankee Stadium with the legends they watched play on the hallowed grounds, it was an opportunity to assist those who have given their lives to help people in need all around the world. Linda Christian who is the head of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation illuminated the work of the nuns.
“I hope after tonight people learn about the foundation and the incredible work that the sisters do. The sisters don't sit back here in New York and decide what's good for someone in Senegal or wherever they're at. They go and live amongst the poor and discuss solutions to their problems.”
With the current economic climate, Christian wanted to assure donors that the foundation prides itself on having transparency with their efforts.
“If you give me a dollar today as a donation and ask what I did with that dollar, I can tell you what country I sent it to, what program I sent it to and if you give me a week or two, I can call the sister and found out the individual who benefited from that dollar. I think that's very important to philanthropic givers to provide that information. One hundred percent of your donation goes to the programs.”
Donations to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor Foundation can be made by visiting their website,
http://www.franciscanfoundation.org/. Christian wanted to leave the supporters with an important message.
“It's beyond religion, we believe in these incredible women working to help the poor, one person at a time.”
