By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
The second annual Hugs for Brady Winter Gala is scheduled for Feb. 18 and will honor local businessman and former New York Giants offensive lineman Brad Benson.
The event will take place at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse in West Hampton, according to the organization.
Foundation founder Sherrie Wells said that the event would honor Mr. Benson with its Humanitarian of the Year Award for the charitable work and courage he has shown through the years.
Mr. Benson, owner of the Brad Benson Auto Group on Route 1 in Monmouth Junction, played with the Giants from 1978-88 and was part of the 1986 team which won Super Bowl XXI by defeating the Denver Broncos, according to his webiste.
After leaving the NFL, Mr. Benson turned his talents to running a successful car dealership in South Brunswick and has been active in the community.
The Hugs for Brady Foundation was founded by Sherrie and Mike Wells to honor their son Brady, whose life was claimed by a rare leukemia called non-differentiated acute leukemia in July 2010, according to the foundation’s website.
The organization is raising money to find a cure for childhood cancer, and helps childhood cancer victims and their families, according to the website.
Last year’s Gala event at Grape Escape in Dayton was attended by more than 200 people and brought in around $30,000 for the foundation.
Tickets for the event start at $125 for individuals.
In addition to the gala, the foundation is holding a blood, bone marrow and platelet drive this weekend at Confectionately Yours on Route 27 in Kendall Park.
The drive, held in conjuction with the American Red Cross, will take place Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the restaurant, according to the organization.
In the last year, the organization has held 10 such drives and raised a total of more than $200,000, according to the organization.
The non-profit, all volunteer, foundation uses the money to help children with all forms of cancer by assisting with their care to buying games for them to play while hospitalized, according to the organization.
For more information, log on to www.hugsforbrady.org.
