by Two World Series champions and a two-time Paralympics swimming medalist will be honored by AHRC New York City Foundation when presented with Thurman Munson Awards at the 45th annual benefit on Thursday night, March 13, at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers (23rd Street at West Side Highway) in New York City: New York Yankees 2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, 1986 New York Mets World Series champion pitcher Doc Gooden, and Paris 2024 two-time Paralympics silver-medalist Ali Truwit will each receive “Thurmans” as the “Class of 2025.”
The Munson Awards are presented to individuals for on-field excellence, and the betterment of sports and community. The AHRC NYC Foundation benefit has helped to keep the memory of the legendary Yankees catcher and captain Thurman Munson alive since his tragic passing 45 years ago, while raising more than $23 million for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead richer, more productive lives.
Richard Lomler, CEO and President-NY, Forest Electric Corp., and Sandy Reis, Vice President, Vornado Realty Trust, will be the recipients of the M. Anthony Fisher Humanitarian Award.
Thurman’s widow Diana Munson is an honorary chair who has supported AHRC NYC and its fund-raising efforts through the Thurman Munson Awards for four decades.
The Master of Ceremonies will be FOX 5 lead sports anchor and Sports Extra host Tina Cervasio.
Special guests expected to attend include: Football Giants Super Bowl champs Harry Carson and Karl Nelson; Yankees WS Champion Jeff Nelson; former Yankee catcher/YES Network analyst John Flaherty; four-time Islanders Stanley Cup Champ Ken Morrow; former Mets pitcher/PIX11 sportscaster Nelson Figueroa, SiriusXM Radio’s Ed Randall and NY broadcast personality Sweeny Murti of MLB.com.
The list of previous Thurman Munson Award recipients reads like a “Who’s Who” of sports stars for the ages, including: Muhammad Ali, Arthur Ashe, Yogi Berra, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Tom Seaver, Mike Piazza, Gary Carter, Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Julius Erving, Harry Carson, Aly Raisman, Nancy Lieberman, and Mark Messier.
Hideki Matsui, nicknamed “Godzilla,” is a lefty slugger with 500 career home runs combined and an 11-time All-Star combined in MLB and Japan’s Nippon Baseball.
In the 2009 World Series, Matsui helped the Yankees defeat the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies in six games by hitting .615 (8-for-13) with three home runs. Since the DH was not used in the three games in Philadelphia, Matsui only started the three games in New York but his performance still earned him the MVP.
Matsui played the first 10 seasons of his career in Japan for NPB’s Yomiuri Giants. He was a nine-time All-Star, three-time champion, and three-time MVP.
In 2003, Matsui transitioned to playing Major League Baseball, his first seven seasons with the Yankees. In pinstripes, he was a two-time All-Star and 2009 World Series champion, earning the MVP. He is the only Asian player to win the award in league history.
Dwight “Doc” Gooden, nicknamed “Dr. K,” hit MLB like a house of fire with the Mets as Rookie of the Year in 1984; he continued the domination in 1985 with a Cy Young Award campaign, and 1986 was the coupe de grace, helping the Mets to attain a World Series championship.
Gooden resurrected his career with the Yankees when he hurled a no hitter on May 14, 1996, and was a member of two Bombers WS championship teams.
The Mets retired his #16 last summer and he is enshrined in the Mets Hall of Fame.
In 16 MLB seasons, spanning 430 games, he pitched 2,800 innings, won 194 games and fanned 2,300 as a four-time ALL star.
Ali Truwit attended St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT. Her high school didn’t have a swim team, so she swam, ironically, for the Chelsea Piers Swim team.
Ali attended Yale University, was a member of the Yale Bulldogs swimming team, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. A mere two days after graduation, snorkeling in the Caribbean, she was the victim of a horrific shark attack, biting her foot off. But she valiantly swam 75 yards back to safety.
Unfathomably, just months later in the 2024 United States Paralympic trials, Truwit set an American record in the 100 m backstroke S10 event with a time of 1:08.98. On June 30th, she was named to team USA’s roster to compete in the Summer Paralympics. She won two Paralympic silver medals: in the women’s S10 400-meter freestyle and 100m backstroke.
Founded 76 years ago, AHRC New York City is a family governed organization that is fiercely committed to achieving equity for people who are neurodiverse in New York City. With over 5,000 staff, reflecting the demographics of our city, we offer an unsurpassed array of services to more than 15,000 people and their families annually in the five boroughs. The organization is part of a social justice movement grounded in our common humanity. AHRC NYC is fully accredited by the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) and is a recognized leader in the field. We are committed to promoting the highest levels of excellence and innovation in all of its programs and services.
