The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center is hosting three hundred Museum supporters at the Plaza Hotel for the second Yogi Berra Museum Awards Dinner. The evening is a salute to individuals who embody the qualities that made Yogi an American treasure.
In Yogi’s honor, the Museum will present the Yogi Berra Museum Humanitarian Award to the President of Production & Programming of The YES Network, John J. Filippelli, “Flip,” for his philanthropic leadership and commitment to community on behalf of the Make a Wish Foundation. The Yogi Berra Museum Teammate Award will go to NY Yankee great Willie Randolph, who continues to uphold Yogi’s legacy as Co-Chair of the Museum’s annual Celebrity Golf Classic. The Yogi Berra Museum Service Award will go to former NY Yankees fan-favorite and MLB Sports Analyst, Nick Swisher, for his charitable initiatives through the Swisher Family Foundation. The Museum will also present the Carmen Berra Award to Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, who has earned the admiration and respect of audiences nation-wide while strengthening the Montclair, NJ community in which she and Carmen Berra both raised their families.
Host for the event is former catcher and YES Network analyst, John Flaherty. Award presenters include Kelly Ripa of Live with Kelly and Ryan, acclaimed sportscaster Bob Costas, actor and star of The Wonder Years, Dan Lauria, and recipient of the Museum’s inaugural Teammate Award, Yankee star pitcher Ron Guidry. The evening entertainment will include performances by renowned jazz artist and multiple Grammy-winner Wynton Marsalis and Yankee great – and great musician – Bernie Williams. A new generation of artists will also perform: jazz prodigy Emmet Cohen, and, as seen on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the NYC Subway Beatles duo of Amiri and Rahiem Taylor, known as Blac Rabbit.
“Although Yogi is no longer with us, the values he lived by are more important today than ever,” says Eve Schaenen, Executive Director of the Yogi Berra Museum. “All proceeds from this awards dinner will support the work we’re doing at the Museum to sustain Yogi’s legacy and the ideals he lived by his entire life, both on and off the field.”
Recipients of last year’s inaugural Museum awards were: Humanitarian Award: McMullen Family Foundation, philanthropists; Teammate Award: Ron Guidry, Yankee great; Service Award: Devin and Jason McCourty, NFL Stars; Carmen Berra Award: Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal, General Partner and Vice Chair, NY Yankees.
