Shara Talia Taylor
The legacy of New York Yankees catcher and captain, Thurman Munson, was cherished again with the recognition of other community leaders in the sports world, at the annual award ceremony and charity event to benefit the AHRC New York City Foundation.
This year’s honorees of the 45th Annual Thurman Munson Award included 1986 New York Mets World Series champion pitcher Dwight “Doc” Gooden, Paris 2024 two-time Paralympics silver-medalist Ali Truwit, and New York Yankees 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. The award recipients have emmulated Musnson’s athleticism and altruism.
“He always was involved in many many charitable events behind the scenes,” said Diana Munson about her husband Thurman, who passed August 2, 1979 at the age of 32 in a plane crash. “That’s who he was. The fact that we can continue this dinner, 46 years later, I think it’s 23 million dollars now, is mind boggling to me.”
The event began shortly after her husband died. Munson is an honorary chair and for decades has supported the fundraising efforts of the AHRC NYC. The organization aims to enable children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“It’s a great accomplishment for myself, knowing the guy that he was and how much he gave back to the community and helping people,” Gooden said about the award. “When you get an award like this, it’s motivates you to want to do even more, just giving back and helping those in need.”
Gooden has supported multiple charities and causes.
The three recipients joined Munson for photographs ahead of the dinner at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.
“It’s truly an honor to receive this award and to be recognized for the things that he has done off the field,” said Hideki Matsui through interpreter.
Matsui has an organization that teaches children to play baseball.
Truwit’s, who survived a shark attack, started Stronger Than You Think (STYT), an organization that aims to “empower individuals with limb loss by providing financial assistance for prosthetics, promoting life-saving water safety education, and fostering strength.
“I think when we look to Thurman Munson and look at his leadership and his grit, I hope to emulate some of that,” she said.
While raising more than $23 million dollars, the AHRC NYC Foundation has kept the memory of Thurman Munson alive.
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