2019 TopSpin Charity event at the Metropolitan Pavilion
TopSpin Charity in NYC returned to the Metropolitan Pavilion on Dec. 11, 2019. Here we enjoyed tasting fine samples from 20 chefs along with playing and watching ping pong.
Many would really enjoy the Garlic Knots with Chicken Parm, Meatball Parm, or Eggplant Parm by Hold My Knots. They are very unique and combine garlic notes with a filling as a slider.
The Shrimp toast by Lola’s was very tasty and not too thick, and if you like pesto, then you would enjoy the Truffle Pesto Pasta from Galli.
The Jerk Chicken samples by Jerkin Chicken were not too spicy and very delicious. Also, great as usual were huge pulled pork sliders by Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and mini Cuban sandwiches by Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine.
To finish the fine food tastings were a variety of desserts. The sticky toffee pudding by Epic Cake NYC was very different, moist, and melted in your mouth.
Lending their support were: Kate Snow of NBC Nightly News, former NBA player Jerome Williams, former Knick John Sparks, former Knick Larry Johnson, former Ranger Adam Graves, Will Reeve of ABC News, former NFL player and actor Dorsey Levens, actor Joe Perrino, and others.
TopSpin’s Charity Host Committee is made up of leading industry executives, including: Mark Tatum of the NBA, Emilio Collins of Excel Sports, Will Funk and Jon Diament of Turner Sports, Charley Horsey and Bryan Duffy of MKTG, Deb Curtis of American Express, Jim Donofrio of NBC Sports, Lloyd Frischer and Jon Levine of CAA, JoAnn Neale of MLS, Frank Nakano of JPMorgan Chase, Ralph Santana of Harman, Ron Skotarczak of MSG, Charlie Turano of Heritage Works, Thayer Lavielle of Wasserman, Dan Mannix of CSM LeadDog, and Tandy O’Donoghue.
Sponsors of TopSpin included sports leagues media entities and premium brands, including: 3i, AEG, American Express, Anheuser-Busch, Athletes First Partners, Atlanta Dream, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, CAA, Coca-Cola, CSM LeadDog, Cupcake Vineyards, Endeavor, EverFi, Excel Sports, Harman International, JPMorgan Chase, Legends, Madison Square Garden, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, NBA Cares, NBC Sports, New York Mets, NFL, NHL, Octagon, Synchrony Financial, Turner Sports, and the Wasserman Foundation.
TopSpin started in 2009 as a way to settle a debate between friends regarding ping pong supremacy. Now they stage 17 events across five cities, bringing together over 12,000 people and raising $4M+ for 25 nonprofit partners.
The funds raised helps various charities especially for our youths. A sad fact is that only 14 percent of low income student compared to 29 percent of middle-income students who graduated high school will finish an undergraduate or graduate degree in eight years, according to the College for America. Also, children that live below the poverty line are 1.3 times more likely to have developmental delays or learning disabilities than those who don’t live in poverty, according to Janet Curre’s study, “Poverty Among Inner-City Children,” by Princeton Publications.
The following charities will try to help:
A Better Chance focuses on increasing educational opportunities for underrepresented, low-income students of color from the five boroughs of New York City.
Horizons at Brooklyn Friends School is a summer and after school academic enrichment program serving low-income students in grades K-8 with a dynamic curriculum of Reading, Math, Science, and the Arts.
Harlem Academy is a private school for gifted children from under served communities.
City Squash motivates young people from economically-disadvantaged households. In this way, they can fulfill their academic, athletic and personal potential through intensive year-round programming.
BBBS of NYC builds and support mentoring relationships to ignite the biggest possible futures for youth.
There were 53 rising eighth and ninth graders from under served communities chosen to participate in the inaugural Top Spin Hoops Academy at The Hun School. Their overnight camp provides intense basketball training and competition, but is just as much about scholarship, conflict resolution and community service.
Their featured speakers included Mark Tatum (NBA), Brandon Williams (76ers), Swin Cash (WNBA), and Vin Baker (Knicks) as an honorary coach. More about the charity can be found at topspincharity.com.
This event would not be possible without MKTG, part of the Dentsu Aegis Network, a global lifestyle marketing agency that specializes in delivering strategic, business-oriented marketing solutions for leading brands via sport and entertainment consulting, live experiences, retail marketing, enterprise/B2B engagement, hospitality and sponsorship marketing. MKTG is committed to constantly evolving, refining and inventing innovative brand engagements through a deeper understanding of how people think, work and live their lives. Headquartered in New York City, MKTG has 1,600 employees and 7,000 Brand Ambassadors operating in 19 countries across the world.
