On Jan. 24, Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker, CBS reporter Lesley Visser and other celebrities came to the Don Taft University Center Arena to celebrate former President Bill Clinton’s acceptance of the Joe DiMaggio Hospital’s first American Icon Award.
The award was presented in honor of the 100th anniversary of Joe DiMaggio’s birthday. Clinton received the award because of his commitment to the Clinton Foundation and the organization’s accomplishments. Some of these accomplishments include starting programs to help feed 30,000 people in Rwanda, helping more than 18,000 schools create healthier learning environments, and creating the first LEED-certified Presidential Center at the Clinton Presidential Center in New York.
“There will always be gaps in the social fabric and there will always be needs because the more you can do, the more you have to do,” Clinton said.
C.J. George, a Joe DiMaggio patient diagnosed with cancer when he was 9-years-old, was able to meet Clinton before the event. George said that he spoke to Clinton as if he were just “a regular guy.”
“The reason I stand here today a healthy and confident young man is because of the people at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital,” George said. “They not only healed me of cancer, they inspired me and encouraged me as a person.”
Joseph Pino, sophomore exercise and sports science major and friend to George. , attends the same church as George and said, “[George] overcame something that so many Americans go through. He’s a good example [of what the American Icon Award represents].”
Other celebrities at the event included NBA Legend Dikembe Mutombo, Baseball Hall of Fame members Andre Dawson, Tony Perez, Jim Palmer and Jeff Conine.
Timothy Bediako, freshman biology major, attended the event and said, “To see somebody as prominent as [Clinton] who actually cares about humanity is really refreshing.”
Irving Uncyk, a community member, said the event was outstanding and well organized.
“I thought the president was the crowning touch. The man is brilliant. He spoke without looking at his notes and knew his dates and statistics,” Uncyk said.
Frank Sacco, president and CEO of Memorial Healthcare System, which Joe DiMaggio’s is a part of, made the opening remarks for the event. He announced that the watch company Invicta is making a Joe DiMaggio commemorative watch to celebrate the 100th anniversary. All the proceeds from the sales of the watch will go to the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
