Annual Teddy Atlas Boxing Dinner Set For November 18

Boxing trainer and ESPN2 Friday Night Fights analyst Teddy Atlas continues to fight the good fight. In his undying efforts to improve the quality of life for those in need in memory of his Good Samaritan father, every year he enlists the support of sports and entertainment celebrities to attend the annual Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation Dinner. One of the most anticipated galas on the Autumn New York banquet circuit, this year’s 14th annual benefit is set for Thursday night, November 18, once again at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island.

Former New York Giants star quarterback and current CBS Sports football analyst Phil Simms and NBC Universal Sports chairman Dick Ebersol are among the celebrities who will be on hand to support the cause.

Ebersol will be receiving the Foundation’s Humanitarian Award in recognition of his numerous contributions to charitable causes.

The boxing community is always omnipresent and this year will be represented by popular heavyweight contenders Gerry Cooney and Chuck Wepner, broadcasters Brian Kenny (ESPN) and Max Kellerman (HB0), Hall of Fame Lou Duva, former champs Renaldo “Mister” Snipes, Junior Jones, and Iran “The Blade” Barkley, and cigar-chomping historian and author Bert Sugar.

Sopranos star Tony “Paulie Walnuts” Sirico, noted choreographer Twyla Tharp and Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage join what will be a long list of personalities expected at this year’s benefit.

Comic Jeff Pirrami returns as host of the festivities which will include a wide array of celebrities, a memorabilia auction, and the presentation of the annual “Teddy” Awards.

Tickets are priced at $200, while Champion tables of 10 are available at $5,000, Contender tables of 12 are available at $3,300, Pro tables of 14 are available at $2,800 by calling 646-670-7654 or via email at selene@ccgroupnyc.com. Log onto www.dratlasfoundation.com for more information.

The Hilton Garden Inn is located at 1100 South Avenue in Staten Island, New York.

Over one thousand supporters attend the “Teddy” Dinner, along with numerous celebrity athletes and actors who show their support for the work of the Foundation.

Notable names scheduled to attend include Bruce Harper, Iran Barkley, Gerry Cooney, Rick Cerone, Lou Duva, Tom Hoover, Max Kellerman, Brian Kenny, Mike Luzzi, Rajiv Maragh, Rinaldo Snipes, Burt Sugar, Chuck Wepner, Frank Menechino and Junior Jones.

The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that provides financial and emotional support to individuals and organizations in need, and focuses primarily on the needs of children.

It was founded in 1997 by boxing trainer, commentator and motivational speaker Teddy Atlas to honor the memory of his father, Dr. Theodore Atlas, a Staten Island physician who for 55 years provided medical services to his community. His spirit of giving is embodied in the Foundation that bears his name.

The Foundation comes to the aid of people in a variety of difficult situations, people who have nowhere else to turn for help, people who would otherwise fall between the cracks. And it does so in a very direct and very real way. Once the Foundation identifies a person or family in need, it immediately moves to help, and avoids any bureaucratic obstacles which might damage the recipient’s pride.

In addition to helping thousands of individuals and families in their times of need, the Foundation has engaged in larger endeavors such as creating incentive programs in schools to encourage and motivate students, creating a food pantry on Staten Island to insure that children do not go to bed hungry, and distributing turkeys at Thanksgiving and toys at Christmas to families that don’t have the financial resources to properly celebrate the holidays.

There is so much more work to be done, and the Foundation remains committed to the mission of bringing help to people in their time of need, no matter how great or small the call.