Browning, Zaun, Simpson and Tucker part of head table lineup
Event proceeds to Thames Valley Children's Centre
By Mark
Schadenberg
A fun
Christmas stocking item could be tickets for that special person in your world
– lottery tickets, concert tickets, sports tickets, or perhaps admission to one of the
most important sports-related benefit events of the year in London.
The 59th
annual Rogers-presented London Sport Celebrity Dinner and Auction (www.londonsportdinner.ca)
is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, 6:30 p.m. at the London Convention
Centre (300 York Street).
It’s a
terrific fundraiser for an amazing Thames Valley Children's Centre association in London assisting the youth of
southwestern Ontario in many health-related aspects.
Mission Statement:
()()()()()()()()()()
Mission, Vision and Values
|
Our
Mission: We will provide rehabilitation
services which support participation in all areas of life for children, youth
and young adults with physical, communication or developmental needs, and
their families, living primarily in Southwestern Ontario by:
Our Vision: Our Clients at Their Best
Our
Values:
Admission is $150 for adults, $75 for students,
and a table of 10 can be booked for $1,500 through the website. The night includes both the silent
and live auctions, but also includes awards to high school athletes (SPECTRA winners),
the recognition of a local table of honour for their recent sports
accomplishments, plus a keynote speech from an area challenged athlete (Madison
Wilson-Walker) who has been coached and inspired through services offered by
the TVCC. The Wilson-Walker update can be read in a link below – a story
about a determined athlete who had both legs amputated due to meningitis.
This year’s head table includes Olympic figure
skating legend Kurt Browning (a four-time world champion also), Blue Jays
broadcaster and retired catcher Gregg Zaun, retired Maple Leafs forward Darcy
Tucker, London Lightning basketball coach Carlos Knox, and Rogers Sportsnet TV
broadcaster Christine Simpson who is originally from London.
 
Kurt Browning, who competed in three Winter
Olympics, was Canada’s top athlete in 1990 when he was voted the Lou Marsh
winner. Browning was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and
Canada's Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 2000, and was also honoured with a star on Canada's Walk Of Fame in 2001. Starting in 2009,
he was the co-host of Battle of the
Blades on CBC TV.
Bill Boland is another figure skating connection to this
year’s gala as Boland will be honoured as Sportsperson Of The Year as he was
a key figure in bringing the 2013 world championships to London as a Skate Canada
board member
Zaun won a World series in 1997 with the Florida Marlins,
but the outspoken retired catcher is best known for his seasons with the
Orioles and Blue Jays (04-08). He played 16 years in the majors with over
1,200 games, and began his broadcasting career as a playoff analyst when he was
still an active player.
 
Personal Note
I was chairperson of the last sports celebrity dinner in
Woodstock when it took place more than five years ago – ending a 25-year run.
These type of events take a gigantic group of volunteers and tons of local
corporate support to combine efforts to raise significant dollars for a very worthwhile
cause. Consider buying a ticket for this TVCC event now as a stocking stuffer
item for the sports fan on your Christmas shopping list.
The St Thomas sports celebrity dinner is Jan. 22. http://www.stthomassportsspectacular.com/ |
LINKS:
Twitter: @ldnsportsdinner or @tvccfamily
Email: Londonsportsdinner@gmail.com
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