Michael J. Fox and Tony Hawk were two of over twenty celebrities that joined global financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald to take part in the company's annual 9/11 Charity Day event, designed to assist charitable causes worldwide.
Cantor Fitzgerald first established Charity Day in memorial of the 658 employees that the firm lost in the terror attacks on the World Trade Center. This year's Charity Day event raised over $12 million. Additionally, the firm, along with affiliate BGC Partners, Inc. donate 100 percent of their global revenues on Charity Day to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and other charities around the world.
The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, originally created to assist families of the firm's employees who perished on 9/11 has broadened its aim to assist victims of terrorism and natural disasters. It has raised over $250 million since its inception.
"We are extremely grateful to our clients and employees who helped us raise money for such worthy causes, and for the generous participation of our celebrity guests who graciously donate their time on this day," Shawn P. Matthews, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald said in a statement. "The impact that Charity Day has globally is remarkable and we are proud to support so many deserving causes."
Celebrities, many of whom represented participating charities, joined Cantor Fitzgerald employees on the trading floor today and work the phones like pros. Among this year's attendee's were NY Yankee Mariano Rivera, NY Ranger Henrik Lundqvist, former NY Giant Tiki Barber, Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte, Tennis superstar Venus Williams, pro skateboarder Tony Hawk, actor Michael J. Fox, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, professional "soul surfer" Bethany Hamilton, model Kate Upton, Real Housewife of New Jersey Kathy Wakile, Miss New York 2011 Kaitlin Monte and many, many more.
"It's a day to remember and honor the victims of 9/11, and I'm so glad they put me on this program to help all these charities in need," Tony Hawk told ESPN in an interview. "I'm so honored they chose our foundation as one of the recipients."
The Tony Hawk Foundation was one of the 41 attending charities, or beneficiaries this year. Others include Samaritan NYC, Autism Speaks, New York Says Thank You Foundation, Friends of Bethany, Voice of September 11, Zellmer Childhood Disease Foundation, Intrepid Sea and Air and Space Museum and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
"This is not necessarily a somber event; I think this is more of a celebration, a celebration of humanity, and an acknowledgement of the needs of the people in the community," Fox told Entertainment Weekly in an interview about the Cantor Fitzgerald Charity Day event. "On a day when so many were affected by so few in such a negative way, it's a great way for so few...to help the wider community in kind of reverse - the energy of that day, the negative energy of that day, with a positive show of support for the community."
