Higashioka to receive Thurman Munson Award
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NEW YORK -- Yankees catcher Kyle Higashioka has been announced among the honorees for the 43rd annual Thurman Munson Awards dinner, which recognizes success and inspiration on the fields of play as well as community spirit off the field.
Also selected to receive Munson Awards are Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo, Mets manager Buck Showalter and LPGA champion and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam. The dinner is scheduled for Feb. 7 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York.
Tina Cervasio and Michael Kay will serve as the co-masters of ceremonies for the awards and dinner, which pay homage to the late Yankees captain, whose life was tragically cut short by a plane crash on Aug. 2, 1979.
The longest-tenured player in the Yankees' organization, Higashioka is an avid supporter of the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif., of which he is a proud alum. The 32-year-old has dedicated a good deal of his free time to ensuring that future Major Leaguers in inner-city neighborhoods have an equal opportunity to thrive as those that grew up in less urban environments.
Higashioka is also a devoted supporter of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the families of fallen and severely wounded special operations warriors and children of all medal of honor recipients.
The event benefits the AHRC NYC Foundation, a nonprofit organization supporting programs for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Diana Munson, Thurman's widow, will be in attendance. She has been involved since its inception, helping to raise more than $19 million to support richer, more productive lives for the people AHRC serves.
AHRC NYC is one of the largest organizations of its kind, serving 15,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injuries.
For tickets and more information, call 212-249-6188 or visit https://www.ahrcnycfoundation.org/munson2023.