The one-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy has passed, but there are still plenty of people in need and plenty of work to be done. That is the message boxing trainer and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas will spread Thursday night when the 17th annual Atlas Foundation dinner is held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Staten Island.
Since Superstorm Sandy hit the New York area in October 2012, the Atlas Foundation has been busy clearing debris, rebuilding houses, buying appliances and providing food and clothing for those in need. The work still continues.
“Some people are close to getting back in their homes, some people are not in,” Atlas said. “Some people are still in hotels with family members. If people still need a piece to get back in their house, we’re providing that piece whether it’s a roof or a floor or a bed.”
Recently, the foundation learned a single mother and her two children, ages 8 and 3, were living out of a car. The foundation moved them into a hotel and provided them with a gift card to purchase food. There’s also the story of the 11-year-old undergoing chemotherapy for cancer who was sleeping on a bedroom floor. The foundation came in and provided a room makeover that included a bed, television and chest of drawers.
“It was most things everybody should have in their room, especially an 11-year-old kid who has cancer,” Atlas said.
Along with being a fundraiser, the dinner is also a reminder to supporters of the charity that they are an important phase of the recovery. Whenever Atlas is thanked, he makes sure the recipients understand the kindness comes from others.
“I tell them it’s not me you should thank,” Atlas said. “There are many people that you can’t see and might not even meet, literally hundreds and thousands of people from all over the New York area that give me the ability to do these things and look out for you.”
Chris Matthews of MSNBC Hardball will receive the Dr. Theodore J. Atlas Humanitarian Award and Fox 5’s Russ Salzberg will be given the Jack Newfield Award, named after the former Post sports columnist. A host of celebrities from boxing, entertainment and media are expected to attend.
Atlas founded the foundation in 1997 to honor the memory of his father, Dr. Theodore Atlas, a physician who for 55 years provided medical services to his community.
“When we get together we remind all those people that we’re going forward and helping people,” Atlas said. “We do whatever it takes. We have many people still trying to get back from the Sandy situation and we’ll continue to do it until we don’t have the means anymore or until it’s not necessary.”