Top Philly Athletes to Present Awards
Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 1:16PM | Administrator Brent Celek, Evan Turner and James van Riemsdyk join Ryan Madson at the Shining Star Awards to Honoring Local Children
Inaugural Dinner Benefitting The March of Dimes to Be Held January 21 at Westin Hotel
PHILADELPHIA (December 8, 2010) – Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will host the inaugural Shining Star Awards benefitting the March of Dimes on January 21, 2011 at The Westin Philadelphia Hotel. These awards, presented at the gala by Philadelphia Eagle Brent Celek, Philadelphia 76er Evan Turner, Philadelphia Flyer James van Riemsdyk and Philadelphia Phillie Ryan Madson, will honor four special children who represent the urgent needs and goals of the March of Dimes.
Those attending the gala dinner will have the opportunity to meet the honorees and bid on sports memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. The evening will feature a video tribute to each honoree documenting the time they spent with one of the four Philadelphia athletes. For more information on the event, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please log onto www.ShiningStarAwards.com or contact Susan Elder at 610-945-6050.
Dante Coccia, Jr. was born prematurely with many health risks and has overcome many obstacles. Today, he is living with many health challenges but serves as a “Shining Star” to all who know him. He and all of his family love the Phillies. Recently Dante and his family were invited out to a game courtesy of the Phillies, where Ryan Madson spent time with them prior to a game. The family was treated to a behind the scenes tour of Citizens Bank Park, which included the clubhouse, media room, batting cages, and also the opportunity to watch batting practice with Madson.
Dante was born four months premature and had a 2% chance of survival. After many setbacks, Dante is now 9 years old and has recently won awards for his horseback riding and an art competition sponsored by the Philadelphia School District. Dante’s father, Dante Coccia, Sr. is a Philadelphia Police Sergeant and his mom, Marla takes care of their three children.
Kacy Wilson of North Philadelphia is a healthy 6 year-old, but she has overcome many obstacles in her short life to get there. She was born two months premature and only weighed 2 lbs. 15 oz. In her first six months of life she had seven surgeries, but despite her rough start, she is now thriving. Kacy will meet 76ers Rookie Evan Turner and get to shoot around with him after practice, plus she will receive a VIP tour of the Sixers practice facility. Kacy and her family will also see Turner play during a Sixers game at Wells Fargo Center from the Comcast SportsNet suite.
Eight year-old Trae Richardson of Oreland, PA will be receiving a VIP tour of Lincoln Financial Field from Eagles tight end Brent Celek. Just to be on the field was a tremendous feat for someone who started their life with such hardship. Trae was born three months premature and weighed 3 lbs. 3 oz. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy but that has not stopped him from participating in sports including swimming, baseball and horseback riding.
Catharine Aboulhouda, from Allentown, PA, was born 16 weeks early and weighed a tiny 1 lb, 10 oz. and spent 113 days in neonatal intensive care. But Catharine beat the odds and is now a healthy 8 year-old due in part to medical advances developed and funded by the March of Dimes. Catharine is very grateful for her health and gives back to the March of Dimes as a National Ambassador for the organization and travels around building awareness for the organization. Catharine will have the chance to meet Flyers forward James van Riemsdyk, watch practice and get a tour of the Virtua Health Flyers Skate Zone and will see a game at the Wells Fargo Center from the Comcast SportsNet suite.
For more information on the athletes and honorees, please visit www.shiningstarwards.com/honorees
At the Shining Star Awards dinner on Friday, January 21, a video will be shown of the children and their special day with the athletes. The athletes will then present the children with their own Shining Star award. For more information on the event, including tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please log onto www.ShiningStarAwards.com or contact Susan Elder at 610-945-6050.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and infant health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.
Funds raised by the Comcast SportsNet Shining Star Awards support the March of Dimes prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs and advocacy efforts for stronger, healthier babies.
About Comcast SportsNet
Comcast Sports Group operates 14 local networks that deliver 2,400 sporting events annually and breaking news and analysis to more than 50 million cable and satellite homes. Comcast Sports Group’s sports networks are: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, Comcast SportsNet California, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Comcast SportsNet New England, Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, SNY, The Mtn. – Mountain West Sports Network, CSS and Comcast Sports Southwest. Comcast Sports Group also manages NECN (New England Cable News), the nation’s largest regional news network, and The Comcast Network, based in Philadelphia and Washington, which delivers community-oriented programming. For more information, see ComcastSportsNet.com.
