NYPD Scuba Officers Win “City Spirit†Award For Rescue Of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 Passengers
 The New York Knickerbockers have announced Westchester resident Michael Delaney and Manhattan resident Robert Rodriguez as the winners of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award for the month of April. The award, named in honor of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American to play for the Knicks, recognizes individuals 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 during a Knicks game with a $2,000 donation in his or her name made out to a charity each selects.Â
Â
Last month, Delaney and Rodriguez were presented with the New York City Police Foundation’s Chuck Barris “Cop of the Yearâ€Â award for their heroic actions in rescuing passengers from the U.S. Airways flight 1549 which made a January emergency landing in the Hudson River. Rodriguez, an eight-year veteran, and Delaney, a nine-year veteran, were helicoptered from Brooklyn’s Harbor Unit and subsequently jumped into the 39-degree water to save two women.
Â
At tonight’s game versus the Detroit Pistons, Mike Delaney and Rob Rodriguez will accept the City Spirit Award at Madison Square Garden. They will donate the award money to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, which funds research for Rett Syndrome, a unique developmental disorder that usually affects girls.
To nominate your hero, or to read more about this month’s winners and other past winners, please visitnyknicks.com.
Posted under Uncategorized
This post was written by joepietaro on April 8, 2009
