PHILADELPHIA. PA – (December 9, 2019) – NBC Sports Philadelphia celebrates 10 years of the Shining Star Awards benefitting the March of Dimes on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Vie. Six amazing children from the Philadelphia area will be honored for overcoming amazing odds at birth, by members of the Philadelphia sports teams. The gala dinner raises money to support the March of Dimes mission to lead the fight for the health of all moms and babies.
The NBC Sports Philadelphia Shining Star Awards is one of the most unique and heartwarming events in Philadelphia. Six local children that have been impacted by the mission of the March of Dimes have been paired with a player from the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, Sixers and Union to receive a special experience with them, including attending a game.
Honorees and Players:
Claudia Farrant age 8 of Philadelphia, honored by Phillie Roman Quinn
Raylan and Westen Baldissero, age 6 of Bridgeton, NJ, honored by the Union’s Mark McKenzie
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Brynn Gray, age 7 of Wilmington, DE, honored by Eagle Nelson Agholor
Mikhi Gindraw, age 10 of Philadelphia, honored by 76ers’ Kyle O’Quinn
Nathan Ponden, age 12, from Townsend, DE honored by Flyer Shayne Gostisbehere
At the event on January 9, the player and children are introduced to the audience, and a brief video shares the child’s heartwarming story and shows the interaction with their player. The child is then presented with their Shining Star Award from the player.
To learn more what makes the Shining Star Awards so special please watch this video.
The Shining Star Awards takes place on Thursday, January 9 at 5:30 pm at Vie located at 600 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA. A limited number of tickets for the 10th anniversary gala are available at $200 each, and can be purchased at marchofdimes.org/shiningstarawards. For Sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to Susan Elder at (484) 685-5838 or selder@marchofdimes.org.
Philadelphia is proud to be the home of one of six March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centers, a network bringing the best and brightest minds together to work and share information. The March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at the University of Pennsylvania joins centers at Stanford University, the Ohio Collaborative, Washington University in St. Louis and the collaboration among the University of Chicago, Northwestern and Duke and the final center at Imperial College London, the first European partner to join the network. These March of Dimes Centers are bringing together more than 300 scientists, researchers and physicians that are pioneering a brand new way of doing “team science”, dedicated to examining, identifying and preventing the causes of preterm birth.
Funds raised at the event support the March of Dimes prenatal wellness programs, research grants, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) family support programs, as well as advocacy efforts for moms and babies.
About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. We support research, lead programs and provide education and advocacy so that every baby can have the best possible start. Building on a successful 80-year legacy of impact and innovation, we empower every mom and every family. Visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org for more information. Visit shareyourstory.org for comfort and support. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter.