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