Summerall legacy lives on during Super Bowl, continues to help St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

News provided by

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Jan 16, 2014, 10:00 ET

Michael Strahan to receive 2014 Award Super Bowl XLVIII – New York

Rich Eisen – NFL Network Host Returns as Master of Ceremonies

Erin Andrews - FOX Sports Broadcaster - Special Guest Speaker

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Jan. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 9^th annual Pat Summerall Award will be presented to New York Football Giants Super Bowl Champion Michael Strahan on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at the Legends for Charity^® Dinner in New York City. The dinner will be held at the NFL Headquarters Hotel, The Grand Hyatt, and once again benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^®.

As a player, Strahan recorded 141.5 sacks over 15 seasons, was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection, was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team (2000s), and won Super Bowl XLII with the Giants. Strahan has found success away from the field as one of America's most recognizable broadcast personalities, serving as an analyst for FOX NFL Sunday and as co-host of the popular nationally-syndicated talk show, LIVE with Kelly and Michael.

Another important role Strahan plays is bringing hope to the children and families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Strahan has been a key advocate for St. Jude, volunteering his time to star in its national television commercials and public service announcements, and supporting the hospital in a number of ways that have helped raise funds and awareness.

Strahan becomes the ninth recipient of this prestigious award, which bears the name of another legendary member of the New York Football Giants family, broadcaster and philanthropist, the late Pat Summerall.

"It's a great honor to receive an award that bears the name of the late Pat Summerall. Pat was an iconic member of the New York Football Giants. To be the first member of the Giants to receive his award here in the city where we both played is very special to me. It's wonderful that the proceeds from Legends for Charity will benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and I am glad to be a part of this endeavor," said Michael Strahan.

"St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is honored to benefit from this incredible event and the support of two of the sport's all-time greats in the late Pat Summerall and Michael Strahan," said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Michael's support is a continuation of the work Mr. Summerall started, and it's because of people like them all around country that families never receive a bill from St. Jude, enabling them to focus solely on helping their child beat cancer."

The NFL Network's Rich Eisen returns for the second year to serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Erin Andrews, FOX Sports Broadcaster will attend and speak as a tribute to her broadcaster partner and friend. The returning presenting sponsor for this year's dinner is The Yokota Foundation. Several supporting sponsors include FOX Sports, CBS Sports, New York Football Giants, WABC/Disney, Panerai, Platinum Maintenance & Total Fire Protection, ShopRite, Meyers Engineers, LTD., Carey International, Inc., Joanne and Mark Hazelwood and Salaam Club.

The Legends for Charity dinner has been honored with seven prestigious Telly Awards. The annual event was created and is produced by Cheryl DeLeonardis, founder and CEO of Ocean 2 Ocean Productions.

For more information please visit www.legendsforcharity.com

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world's best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since it opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital