CAF Co-Founder and HHH Gala emcee Bob Babbitt shows off Cody McCasland’s running legs before the Fund an Item Running Leg live auction. Alan Perlman
The Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) brought in more than $600,000 through sponsorships, as well as from auction and ticket sales at its Celebration of Heroes, Heart, and Hope Gala (HHH Gala), which was held on Wednesday, June 10, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, New York, New York. CAF athletes and supporters, triathlon clubs, and professional businessmen and businesswomen alike arrived to recognize the athletic achievements of four outstanding physically challenged athletes and to greet the evening’s honoree, Mark Holowesko, CEO and chief investment officer of Holowesko Partners Ltd., a triathlete whom Business Week named one of the world’s fittest CEOs.
“This year’s event surpassed all of our expectations,” said Virginia Tinley, CAF’s executive director. “Given the state of the economy, we were worried about folks’ willingness to give. But our worries disappeared when the evening’s energy, passion, and inspiring stories touched everyone’s heart.” Highlights of the evening included professionally produced athlete-profile videos by Emmy-winning producers Lisa Lax and Nancy Stern of Lookalike Productions; the Fund An Item Handcycle auction, which raised $100,000; the Fund an Item Running Leg auction, which raised $141,000; and the Ford Ironman Triathlon World Championship auction, in which two bidders dueled it out and the winning bidder paid $30,000 for the entry slot.
For the first time, CAF also gave awards to four challenged athletes who embody the traits of a hero, demonstrate heart, give hope to others, and display perseverance in the face of adversity.
The Hero Award Winner was Sam Cila. Cila joined the New York National Guard after September 11 and was permanently injured in Iraq on July 4, 2005. After the amputation of his arm below the elbow, he continues to heal through sports.
The Heart Award Winner was Deanna Babcock. A competitive athlete her whole life, Babcock was devastated when she lost her leg after a sudden cardiac arrest. Now with a new running foot, she’s back into sports and back into life.
The Hope Award Winner was David Gelfand. Born with proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD) the young native of Weston, Connecticut, offers hope to other physically challenged kids.
The Perseverance Award Winner was Ricky James. Injured while racing an Amateur Motocross National, James lost the use of his legs, but not his competitive spirit.
“I’d like to again congratulate each of the four award winners,” said Scott Stackman, chair of the HHH Gala committee. “Their courage and determination inspired every single one of the 500 attendees that evening. I couldn’t have been more proud of my affiliation with such an amazing organization and the athletes they support.”
