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