Come September 11, 2011, it will officially mark the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001 in the United States. Thousands of people were affected by the attacks, as it left many people without loved ones and those they truly admired. Today, several players from the New York Rangers, as well as coaches, will be visiting three New York City Fire Department houses in Manhattan and then Tower 7 at the World Trade Center site for a reception to honour those who helped out on the tragic day, as well as those who lost their lives in order to help others.
Alongside the players and coaches will be children who were directly affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011. The children, who are all from the Garden of Dreams Foundation; a non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of Madison Square Garden to make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles, are also travelling on the bus with the members of the Rangers organization to visit the New York City Fire Department houses and Tower 7. In the four years of its existence, Garden of Dreams has worked non-stop to fulfill its mission by creating unique and unforgettable events and activities which often include unprecedented access to MSG celebrities, events and venues and has helped change the lives of thousands and thousands of special children and their families.
In the recent years, over 145,000 tickets have been donated to organizations served by Garden of Dreams and more than 1,800 special events have been designed for children and their families. They have surprised children in the local children’s hospitals by getting different athletes to deliver toys to them collected through MSG Entertainment and NY Liberty toy drives and have helped plan trips to community based organizations to distribute coats donated during a Rangers coat drive. They also give them the opportunity to meet players and celebrities on Dream Suite Nights or at Rangers Skating Parties, on set at Fuse, or the once in a lifetime opportunity to perform on the Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall at the MSG Entertainment Talent Show. On top of all of this, the Foundation teams up with the Knicks, Rangers and Liberty to unveil newly refurbished spaces at partner organizations by virtue of its annual Room Refurbishment program.
Gardens of Dreams has assisted in making dreams come true for several children through their Make A Dream Come True program in which they have helped a child meet their hero and Rangers legend, Adam Graves, and helped another child meet the Radio City Rockettes. Although they only get to hang out with their heroes for a limited time, the memories and the experience is instilled for life. Their partnership with MSG and its employees gives the Foundation an opportunity to conduct a meaningful Adopt a Family program with Children’s Aid Society. This past holiday season, MSG employees “adopted” 135 families who were in need throughout New York City.
A day that will forever be remembered by those who were old enough to understand what was going on; the New York Rangers are doing a good job helping out the citizens of New York in a time where a little distraction and some space to breathe might be helpful. They are coming through for their people, just like those people come through for them night in and night out. They are remembering those who died and helped out on that day and let it be known that they will never forget them. The athletes that people see as heroes are doing the best that they can to put the spotlight on the real heroes of the city, the ones who look at fear directly in the face and don’t hesitate to keep moving forward to help out those in need. They did what they could to help out the city on that day and for that they will always be remembered. The New York Rangers organization are doing a classy and respectful thing by honouring the men and women who helped out or gave their lives in order to let someone else see another day. The real heroes will always be remembered and never forgotten.
To learn more about the Garden of Dreams Foundation, visit http://www.gardenofdreamsfoundation.org/
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