| Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio has an award | | | | men have graduated from this special |
| gala in his memory - The Joe DiMaggio Award | | | | initiative and all have gone on to four-year |
| Gala - a major fundraiser for Xaverian High. | | | | colleges. |
| It is a program for students with learning | | | | |
| disabilities. Established in 1999 after the | | | | Four students recently received scholarships |
| Yankee Clipper's death, the Joe DiMaggio | | | | to major New York-Metropolitan area |
| Award's mission is to memorialize his | | | | universities, said Basile. |
| "lifelong commitment to the health, education | | | | |
| and well being of America's youth." | | | | Since Xaverian is private and tuition driven, |
| | | | proceeds from the Gala will especially |
| Not many people knew this about Joe DiMaggio | | | | benefit its many students. Besides the dinner |
| - the baseball legend had a thing for | | | | and awards presentation, the evening includes |
| students with learning disabilities. | | | | a silent auction of rare Joe DiMaggio |
| | | | memorabilia donated by the DiMaggio Estate |
| The Joe DiMaggio Award Gala is in his memory. | | | | and Morris Engelberg, Esq. |
| A major fundraiser for Xaverian High, it is a | | | | |
| program for students with learning | | | | DiMaggio earned the Bay Ridge school's |
| disabilities. Established in 1999 after the | | | | highest honor, formerly called the Concordia |
| Yankee Clipper's death, the Joe DiMaggio | | | | Award, in 1997. The award has since been |
| Award was started by its chairman, Dr. Rock | | | | presented to Dr. Maestro Luciano Pavarotti, |
| Positano, as well as the approval of the | | | | Henry Kissinger, television personality Regis |
| Estate of DiMaggio. The mission is to | | | | Philbin, singer/songwriter Paul Simon, |
| memorialize diMaggio's "lifelong commitment | | | | Sopranos star James Gandolfini, CBS Sports |
| to the health, education and well being of | | | | commentator Boomer Esiason, NBC Emmy-Award |
| America's youth." | | | | winning sports broadcaster Bob Costas and |
| | | | former mayor and current presidential hopeful |
| The major fundraiser is for Xaverian's Ryken | | | | Rudolph Giuliani. |
| Education Center, a place where students with | | | | |
| learning disabilities get help. | | | | Most recently on January 4, 2008, Brooklyn's |
| | | | Xaverian High School presented the recently |
| "This has become the preeminent education | | | | retired Giants running back, Tiki Barber with |
| gala in the United States. This year benefits | | | | its coveted Joe DiMaggio Award. The "Today |
| the Legacy Program, an intensive and | | | | Show" commentator and analyst on NBC's |
| self-contained program that runs alongside | | | | "Football Night in America," was honored in |
| the mainstream. This program is created for | | | | Manhattan at Cipriani restaurant. |
| students with learning disabilities," said | | | | |
| Board member Rocco Basile. | | | | During an illustrious 10-year playing career, |
| | | | Barber, three-time Pro-Bowler, set virtually |
| Adopted by the New York State Regents as the | | | | every career offensive record for the Giants |
| model of all such endeavors, since the Ryken | | | | and is best known for team records of 10,448 |
| Program's inception in 1994 (it was formerly | | | | rushing yards, 586 receptions and 15,631 |
| known as the REACH Program), over 100 young | | | | total yards from scrimmage. |