By Sarah Green
Voices Center for Resilience (VOICES), a non-profit organization providing long-term support for those impacted by 9/11 and helping communities prepare for other tragedies, is hosting its annual “Always Remember Gala,” to be held on Thursday, November 14th, 2024, at the iconic New York Athletic Club. Our 2024 distinguished honorees include ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro and 9/11 Day Co-founders David Paine and Jay Winuk. Once again, VOICES long-time friend ESPN’s Mike Greenberg will take the helm as Master of Ceremonies.
“This year’s theme, A Night of Champions, shines a spotlight on three extraordinary individuals whose leadership and legacy have had a profound and long-lasting impact on healing the nation,” stated Mary Fetchet, VOICES Executive Director. “Their inspirational efforts have supported and unified our communities, exemplifying football great Walter Payton’s famous quote, ‘We are stronger together than we are alone.’”
Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman of ESPN, will be recognized with the VOICES 2024 Leadership Award. Under his leadership, ESPN documented how sports united the nation in the aftermath of 9/11. His important contribution toward the development of The Comeback Season Exhibit at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and subsequent ESPN television special reflects Jimmy’s personal commitment to inspire and promote healing in the face of tragedy. “September 11, 2001, will forever be remembered as a day that profoundly impacted New York, the nation, and the world, evoking deep shock, grief, and an extraordinary sense of solidarity. In New York, sports emerged as a powerful force for unity, offering hope and a return to normalcy. Across the U.S., sporting events provided a space for collective mourning, honoring the victims, and bringing communities together during a time of immense sorrow,” said Pitaro. “The team at ESPN was honored to collaborate with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York on both the Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11 exhibit and the E60 special.”
David Paine and Jay Winuk, Co-founders of 9/11 Day will be honored with the VOICES 2024 Legacy Award. Their groundbreaking efforts in securing the designation under federal law of September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance has transformed the heartbreak of 9/11 into a national movement of unity, service, and remembrance. The 9/11 Day observance is now the largest annual day of charitable engagement in U.S. history. Together, David and Jay have created a lasting legacy that continues to inspire volunteerism and acts of kindness across the country.
“Our mission from the outset was to create a ritual in this country that brings millions of people together for the greater good each 9/11 in honor of those lost, sickened and injured from the attacks,” said Winuk, whose brother, Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney and volunteer firefighter/EMT died in the line of duty on 9/11. “We are so grateful to VOICES, not only for this wonderful award, but for being a true and impactful partner for so many years.”
9/11 Day co-founder David Paine stated, “Nearly 23 years ago, Jay and I met with Mary and Frank Fetchet for the first time, asking if they thought transforming the anniversary of 9/11 into a National Day of Service would be an appropriate way to honor the loss of their son Bradley and the many others tragically killed in the 9/11 attacks. They immediately embraced the idea and stood side-by-side with us as we worked to make that important observance a reality. We share this award with them and the others in the 9/11 community who helped make 9/11 Day possible.”
The gala also features Broadway star Julie Reiber, who will perform a song from Come From Away, the true story of the Gander, Newfoundland, community’s residents who opened their hearts and their homes to thousands of stranded airline passengers in the wake of 9/11. This Tony Award-winning musical demonstrates the theme of the evening, bringing communities together.
The “Always Remember Gala” raises funds to support VOICES programs, including support services, educational initiatives and preparedness trainings. For more information or to purchase sponsorships, tickets, and program tribute ads, visit www.voicescenter.org.
Contact: Sarah Green email: sgreen@voicescenter.org phone: 203-966-3911
About Voices Center for Resilience
Founded in the aftermath of 9/11, Voices Center for Resilience, (formerly Voices of September 11th) provides long-term support services and access to mental health care and resources for thousands of victims’ families, responders and survivors. VOICES collaborates with public-private partners to assist communities in preparing for and responding to tragedies, in the United States and abroad. VOICES comprehensive approach underscores a commitment to promote resilience in the lives of those impacted and builds bridges between communities affected by traumatic events.
2024 Leadership Award Honoree
James Pitaro – Chairman, ESPN
Jimmy Pitaro is the Chairman of ESPN, where he holds full operational and financial responsibility for the network, a key division of The Walt Disney Company. In this role, he oversees ESPN’s entire portfolio of sports content, products, and experiences across all Disney platforms worldwide which includes international sports channels, creative development, marketing, sales and distribution. Before being named Chairman in 2023, Pitaro served as Chairman of ESPN and Sports Content from October 2020, and he was previously named ESPN President and Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks in 2018. Under Jimmy’s leadership, he committed ESPN’S time and resources to develop The Comeback Season Exhibit at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the subsequent ESPN television special that demonstrated how, in the wake of 9/11, sports helped heal our nation.
2024 Legacy Award Honorees
Jay Winuk and David Paine – 9/11 Day Co-founders
Jay Winuk, Co-founder and Executive VP of 9/11 Day and David Paine, Co-founder and President of 9/11 Day will be recognized with VOICES 2024 Legacy Award. On September 11, 2001, Jay’s brother Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, was killed in the line of duty at the World Trade Center. Inspired by his brother’s devotion to community service and courageous actions, Jay joined David Paine in 2002 in helping to build the 9/11 Day Observance initiative. Their groundbreaking efforts in securing the designation under federal law of September 11th as a National Day of Service and Remembrance has transformed the heartbreak of 9/11 into a national movement of unity, service, and remembrance. The 9/11 Day observance is now the largest annual day of charitable engagement in U.S. history.
Event Details:
• Event: VOICES Always Remember Gala
• Date: Thursday, November 14, 2024
• Time: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
• Location: New York Athletic Club, New York, NY
For more information or to purchase sponsorships, tickets, and program tribute ads, visit VOICES website at voicescenter.org or contact Sarah Green at sgreen@voicescenter.org.
