Grand Stand Sports and Olympic Medalists Rogers and Morehouse Team up to Help Charities

Jason with an autographed skateboard from Tony Hawk at the offices of Grand Stand Sports in New York

Helping charities, promoting fencing and attending fun events…all things Jason and I will be able to do more of thanks to our new partnership with Grand Stand Sports!

Grand Stand Sports is a company that runs silent and live auctions for charities in New York City and other locations around the country.   After the $20,000 dollars that our fencing clinic raised at the Boys Town charity gala a few months back, we entered into discussions with them about making our fencing clinic a regular item for their charity auctions and now it’s a reality!

They have worked with such great charities as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society and Children’s Miracle Network to name a few. Our clinic will help raise funds for great causes like these as well as exposing new people to our sport!

Our new partner Howie Schwartz from Grand Stand Sports

The idea for the clinic was inspired by Michael Phelps, who offers a chance to swim with him as an item that charities can auction and then every once in awhile he conducts his clinic with the winning bidders.  On our end, every other month Jason and I will conduct a fencing clinic at the Manhattan Fencing Center for the winning bidders so this works well with our busy training schedules.

If you know of any charities that would like to have a silent or live auction…it’s free for the charity, and they provide the staff and set the auction up.   The items offered are also more than just sporting items and they can walk a charity through their offerings.

Superman’s Champions

Christopher Reeve's daughter Alexandra Reeve, Host Francesco Clarke and friend Scott Buccheit at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Event

The legacy and inspiration of Christopher Reeve (aka Superman) and his heroic struggle to walk again following a riding accident which left him paralyzed lives on today through his foundation and its New York City supporters are making sure his work continues by raising money and awareness with great events. 

Last week, Jason Rogers and I attended one of those events— a fundraiser for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation hosted by Francesco Clarke at the private club Norwood in Chelsea.   Francesco’ story is truly inspiring– despite being paralyzed in a diving accident in 2002, he has risen above his tragedy to be a successful business man, founding the Clark’s Botanical Products, as well as helping to advance the mission of the foundation.

Supermodel Maggie Rizer

In attendance was the beautiful and extremely gracious Alexandra Reeve, whose British accent threw me off at first (She was raised partially in London!), supermodel Maggie Rizer, our friends Scott Buccheit, Carrie Baker, Grace Brea, Tammy Karakis and about a hundred or so guests.  Alexandra and Francesco thanked the crowd and shared the importance of the continuing efforts to cure spinal cord injury.(Very inspiring people!)

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation– whose mission to help fund research to cure spinal cord injuries is now carried on by his children Matthew, Will and Alexandra Reeve as well as a great group of “champions” in New York like Francesco and has many supporters including celebrities like Meryl Streep, Glenn Close and Wilmer Valderrama who all attended their annual gala last year where our friend, former NY Ranger Mike Richter was honored along with his teammate Brian Leetch.

You can learn more about the foundation and their future events at:
http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.ddJFKRNoFiG/b.4444141/k.E454/Champions_Committee.htm?auid=4426633

You can also read about our friend’s Scott experieces that night at: http://guestofaguest.com/nyc-events/cott/

Olympians at work…

My teammates Jason Rogers and Emily Cross working hard on a Sunday night!