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150
MENTEES EXPERIENCE THRILL OF A LIFETIME
AT
METLIFE STADIUM
DURING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF NYC’S
22ND ANNUAL
GRIDIRON GAMES
Former New York Jets and New York Giants Players Joined Bigs and
Littles
on the Field
17 of NYC’s Top Law Firms Battle for Gridiron Games Trophy,
Raising Over $257,000 for BBBS of NYC Youth Mentoring Programs
East
Rutherford, NJ, October 29, 2016 –Over
150 children from New York City’s five boroughs experienced a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of playing football on the same
field as NFL stars at Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC’s (BBBS of
NYC) 22nd Annual
Gridiron Games.
Each year, the Gridiron Games brings children (“Littles”)
from BBBS of NYC’s mentoring programs and their adult mentors (“Bigs”)
to MetLife Stadium, the home of the New York Jets and the New
York Giants. Former New York Jets, Glenn Foley, Fred Baxter and
Tony Richardson, and former New York Giants, Billy Taylor and
Karl Nelson, joined the Big and Little matches for an exciting
day of touch football games and drills, while the New York Jets
Flight Crew cheerleaders cheered on the participants and taught
dance moves to the Littles on the sidelines.
After the games and activities, the Littles and
Bigs were treated to a special tour of the locker rooms and
enjoyed lunch in one of the stadium’s VIP clubs. The former NFL
players and special guests spoke to the Littles about the
importance of education, making positive choices in their daily
lives, and working hard to achieve their dreams.
“The Gridiron Games give our Littles a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play football on the same
field as their NFL heroes, while reinforcing valuable life
lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship and working hard to
achieve their dreams,” said Jared Landaw, chair of the 2016
Gridiron Games and co-founder of the event. “This is an
unforgettable day for these young people, and I look forward to
this event year after year.” Mr. Landaw is a member of the Board
of Trustees of BBBS of NYC, which also includes NFL Commissioner
Roger Goodell. The National Football League supports this
event.
“Today is a great metaphor for our Agency’s
mission. Our Bigs cheered on their Littles to make it to the
next yard to score a touchdown, as they do throughout the year,
encouraging their Littles to take the extra steps needed to
achieve their goals,” said Hector Batista, chief executive
officer of BBBS of NYC. “I would like to thank our mentors for
making our mission possible, and I would also like to express my
gratitude to our Gridiron Games sponsors, who play a tremendous
role in the success of this event year after year.”
In the afternoon, the Gridiron Games turned into
a competitive touch football tournament between 17 of New York
City’s top law firms, raising over $257,000 for BBBS of NYC.
After the tournament, participants celebrated at a special
cocktail reception in the Stadium’s VIP Lounge, and the winning
team was awarded the Gridiron Games trophy. To date, the
Gridiron Games has raised over $2 million for BBBS of NYC, which
supports the organization’s mission of providing one-to-one
mentoring relationships to young people across the five
boroughs. Currently, BBBS of NYC serves more than 5,200 young
people in New York City each year.
The 2016 Gridiron Games were sponsored by Compass
Lexecon, Skytop Strategies, MacKenzie Partners, Charles River
Associates, Bernstein, Litowitz, Berger & Grossmann, LLP, Ross,
Aronstam & Moritz, LLP, Sidley Austin LLP and Stout Risius Ross.
Additional support was received from NFL Play60 and JetsFest.
Participating law firms included Desmarais, LLP;
Freshfields; Fried Frank; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Kelley
Drye &
Warren LLP; Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP; Latham &
Watkins LLP; Skadden; Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP; Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP; Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman;
Cadwalader; Simpson Thacher; Allen & Overy LLP; Schulte, Roth, &
Zabel; Morrison & Foerster; and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.
For
more information about the Gridiron Games, visit http://www.bigsnyc.org/events/gridiron.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City
Big
Brothers Big Sisters of NYC (BBBS of NYC), the nation’s first
and NYC’s largest youth mentoring organization, has served the
changing needs of New York City’s most at-risk youth since 1904.
The volunteer- and donor-based organization offers a variety of
specialized mentoring programs to help children facing more
complex challenges – including immigrant youth, teen mothers and
children of incarcerated parents – as well as the Workplace
Mentoring Center, which helps businesses throughout New York
City positively impact the lives of young people and build a
foundation for professional success. Additionally, since 1992
BBBS of NYC has worked through its Center for Training and
Professional Development to equip non-profit professionals
throughout New York City to develop and enhance their own
mentoring and youth-development programs and organizations.
Through the support of individuals, foundations and
corporations, this not-for-profit agency has been able to change
the lives of the city’s most disadvantaged children, matching
them with caring adult role models – dependable friends who can
help to expand their horizons, realize their potential and
enrich their futures. To learn more, become a mentor and/or
offer support, please visit www.bigsnyc.org.
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