U.S. Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Team’s Captain Aly Raisman will make an appearance at the Katz Jewish Community Center’s annual Sports Award Dinner.
The dinner, now in its third year, will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 5:45 p.m.
Raisman will be recognized with the Outstanding Achievement Award.
“We are so thrilled to be one of the first stops Aly Raisman makes after her incredible Olympic Games in London,” said Neil Levine, event chair, in a statement. “She is truly inspirational as a young Jewish athlete, and we could not think of a more deserving individual for the Outstanding Achievement Award at this year’s Sports Award Dinner at the Katz JCC.”
Raisman used her international platform to express her Jewish beliefs and heritage, explained Brian Adler, Director of Fundraising and Development.
“Our committee felt that she had just represented everything that we like to look at when it comes to this event,” Adler added.
Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach Doug Collins will give the keynote address.
“He’s an upstanding guy,” explained Adler, who said that Collins was chosen due to his commitment to athletics.
Joe Conklin of local radio fame will be the master of ceremonies for the night.
About 700 people are expected to attend, and tickets were still available as of last week.
The event, Adler said, exudes that there is more to a sport than the game itself.
Each honoree, he said, will be speaking about families and their commitments to the community through volunteer work.
“It recognizes that there are things that are more to life than just the bat and the ball,” he said. “It’s not just practice. It’s also giving back to the community.”
Friedman LLP will present the dinner and, according to Adler, anyone would benefit from attending.
He purchases a general admission ticket for his father each year, and he is always able to grab a good seat, no matter how packed the dinner is upon arrival.
“There really isn’t a bad seat in the house,” he explained.
The night will also honor Arie Gluck, Marlee Ehrlich and Alex Schwarz, members of the Jewish and athletic community.
There will be ballpark food as well as a silent and live auction.
Oh, and the Sixer’s Dance Team will be on hand to recognize Collins.
According to a release, the event’s proceeds will give financial assistance and services for children, including “youth sports leagues, nutrition counseling, wellness classes, obesity prevention and adaptive fitness and aquatics programs for those with special needs.”
General admission is priced at $76.
“It’s going to be a fun event,” Adler said.
For more information
Learn more about Katz JCC’s Sports Award Dinner and the honorees to be recognized by visiting www.katzjcc.org or call (856) 424–4444.
General admission tickets are priced at $76 each. The MVP Patron Package is $1,000 each and the All-Star Patron Package is $600 each.
The center is located at 1301 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill.
