The New York Knickerbockers have announced NY Waterway Captains and Deckhandsas the winner of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award for the month of January. The award, named in honor of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American to play for the Knicks, recognizes those who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Each month, a winner is chosen by members of the Knicks front office staff and honored at center court of a Knicks game. Winners receive a $2,000 donation in their name to a charity of their choice from the New York Knicks.
NY Waterway captains and deckhands instinctively reacted when they saw U.S. Airways Flight 1549 plunge into the Hudson River last Thursday. The commercial commuter ferries responded within two minutes pulling 142 of the 155 passengers from the jet’s wings and life rafts.
At tonight’s game versus the Phoenix Suns, three NY Waterway rescuers and owner, Arthur Imperatore, Sr., will accept the City Spirit Award at Madison Square Garden on behalf of the 14 vessels involved. The rescuers are: Brittany Catanzaro, 20, of Fairview, NJ, a NY Waterway ferry captain of the MV Thomas Kean, Jose Torres, 38, of Union City, NJ, acrew member on vessel George Washington, and Alan Warren, 35, of Hazlet, NJ, Director of Marine Operations. They will donate the award money to Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Casco, ME for kids with life threatening illnesses and their families.
To nominate your hero, or to read more about this month’s winners and other past winners, please visitnyknicks.com.
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This post was written by joepietaro on January 21, 2009
