St. Mary’s chosen as beneficiary for Harris’ celebrity Immaculate Reception & Dinner
Four-time Super Bowl Champion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Franco Harris joined business partner and former Penn State teammate Lydell Mitchell, and former New York Giants linebacker Brian Kelley for a visit to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in Bayside recently. Harris and Mitchell have named St. Mary’s the beneficiary of their 17th Annual Immaculate Reception and Dinner, a star-studded, sold-out event held in the Super Bowl host city.
The three football legends toured the patient units at the facility, distributed autographed caps to the children and took photos with medical staff and patients. Dr. Eddie Simpser, interim CEO and President of St. Mary’s, who led the tour, expressed his gratitude to the former players.
“We are very thankful to Franco and Lydell for choosing St. Mary’s as the benefitting charity for their prestigious and distinguished dinner.” He shared. “Their support for New York’s sickest children is inspirational, and on behalf of the entire staff and the patients I invite them to return for another visit.”
Franco Harris is recognized as one of professional football’s greatest running backs. A first round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harris spent 12 of his 13 years in the NFL with the team. He is a four-time Super Bowl Champion, MVP of Super Bowl IX, and an inductee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Harris is renowned for one of professional football’s most famous plays, “The Immaculate Reception,” in which he clinched the playoffs for the Steelers in the last 22 seconds of the game against the Oakland Raiders.
For the past 16 years, Harris along with business partner, former Penn State teammate, and NFL alum Lydell Mitchell, host the Annual Immaculate Reception and Dinner, an “A-list” celebrity event. This year’s dinner was held in New York City on January 30, 2014.
