NFL Kickoff for a Cure II Raises over $2.1M

Over 800 people gathered on March 14 at the Waldorf=Astoria in New York City as the National Football League hosted Kickoff for a Cure II, its second annual event to benefit Autism Speaks and The Gillen Brewer School. The event was a great success, surpassing its fundraising goals by raising over $2.1 million dollars for children with autism and other special needs.

During the evening's cocktail hour and dinner, guests had the unique opportunity to mingle with some of their favorite NFL players, past and present, including many Hall of Famers. Among the players in attendance were Marcus Allen, Jamal Anderson, Otis Anderson, Harry Carson, Howie Long, Donovan McNabb, Antonio Pierce, Michael Strahan, Lynn Swann and Roger Wehrli.

Four individuals were presented awards for their outstanding philanthropic work. The evening's honorees were Pro Football Hall of Famer Frank Gifford; Jimmy Lee, vice chairman, JPMorgan Chase & Co.; William Weldon, chairman and CEO of Johnson and Johnson; and Zygi Wilf, owner and chairman of the Minnesota Vikings. The awards were presented by event co-chairs Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner; Henry Schacht, chairman of the board of trustees, The Gillen Brewer School; and Suzanne and Bob Wright, co-founders, Autism Speaks, as well as by Autism Speaks board member Mel Karmazin, chief executive officer of SIRIUS Satellite Radio.