NBA Legend Billy Cunningham And Entrepreneur Hunter Morin Named Honorary Co-Chairs Of Thirteenth Annual Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation Dinner

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation, a scholarship program that to date has raised more than $4.6 million to provide college scholarships to 158 children of firefighters and victims of the September 11 attacks and other fires and disasters, today announced that Billy Cunningham, former NBA player and coach, and Hunter Morin, President of GeMROI, have been named Honorary Co-Chairs of the Foundation's thirteenth annual dinner. The event is scheduled to occur on Monday, March 30, 2015 at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.

The Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation began in response to a terrible tragedy – the loss of Michael Lynch, a son, brother, fiancé, uncle and New York City firefighter who sacrificed his own life on September 11 in an effort to save others. Facing the ultimate loss, the Lynch family saw an opportunity to help finance the education of young people as a living tribute to the human spirit and the family's collective resolve to respond to adversity with courage, strength, compassion and hope. The goal of the Foundation is to provide the means to help change the world, one person at a time, by helping the students of today become tomorrow's stewards of peace and freedom.

"As the son of a New York City firefighter, it is my particular honor to join with my longtime friend Hunter Morin to serve as Honorary Co-Chair of this year's annual dinner," Mr. Cunningham said. "Since its inception, the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation has provided well-deserved support to students and families, including many who were impacted by the terrible events of 9/11. It is my privilege to honor the affected families and to commemorate all the great men and women who have lost their lives in service."

"I am honored to join with Billy to participate with and support real-life heroes at the dinner," Mr. Morin said. "The fireboat demonstration at last year's dinner had a lasting impact on me. Since then, I have worked closely with my friend Bob Stanford to meticulously restore a 1978 American La France fire truck in honor of the 343 firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11 – particularly those from Michael Lynch's Engine 40 Ladder 35 Company. We look forward to displaying the truck at this year's dinner."

"I am delighted that Billy and Hunter will serve as the Honorary Co-Chairs for the 2015 dinner," said Jonathan Henes, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and member of the Foundation's Board of Directors. "Their desire to give back exemplifies the values of the Foundation. I know that numerous restructuring professionals and other members of the business community will once again welcome the opportunity to join them in supporting this very worthy cause."

William John "Billy" Cunningham, a native of Brooklyn, New York, is a former professional basketball player and coach. A four-time NBA All-Star and NBA champion, he was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986 and has also been named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

After graduation from UNC Chapel Hill, Mr. Cunningham was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 1965 NBA Draft, and went on to play eight seasons for the team. He was also a member of the powerful 1976 76ers championship team (featuring Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker, and Luke Jackson), which many experts have hailed one of the greatest teams ever assembled in professional basketball. Mr. Cunningham served as head coach for the 76ers for eight seasons, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1995, he retired from the game of basketball along with his number 32 jersey, and in 1996 he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.

Mr. Cunningham's late father, John Cunningham, became a fireman after serving in World War II and worked his way up to serving as Assistant Chief of New York City before retiring from the FDNY.

R. Hunter Morin has had an illustrious career in the manufacturing and marketing industries. He serves as President of the GeMROI Company, which he founded in 1984 and has since grown into a national marketing agency in the building materials industry. In 2002, he co-founded The Jian Group, an investment banking organization that has become one of the most active M&A firms in the building materials industry. Additionally, he founded two import/export companies, Mercantek Industries and The Man Wing Company. Mr. Morin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

"My family and I want to thank Billy and Hunter for serving as the co-chairs of this year's dinner," said Maureen Lynch Baker, a Director of the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation. "They have exemplified success and dedication through their remarkable professional careers and civic involvements, and will undoubtedly serve as inspirations for our current and future scholarship recipients."

Details about the Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation and the Annual Dinner on March 30, 2015 are available online at www.mlynch.org.

SOURCE Michael Lynch Memorial Foundation