Steve Schirripa Honored with 2019 Garden of Dreams Hero Award

The Garden of Dreams Foundation announced last night that Steve Schirripa is the recipient of the 2019 Garden of Dreams Hero Award. Established in 2009, the Hero Award honors organizations or individuals annually that embody the spirit of the Garden of Dreams Foundation through an active and ongoing dedication to positively impacting the lives of children facing obstacles, while serving as a driving force and inspiration for others. Schirripa received the award as a surprise at the 2019 Garden of Laughs comedy benefit, presented by Delta Air Lines, which took place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on April 2, 2019.

Schirripa demonstrates these values with his tremendous commitment to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, of which he became an advisory board member in 2014. Steve has helped bring joy to thousands of children thanks to his enthusiastic involvement in the Foundation's programs. This includes hosting the biennial Garden of Laughs comedy benefit at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden three times and playing a role in the annual Garden of Dreams Talent Show, which gives more than 150 children from the tri-state area the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform on the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall.

Past recipients of the Garden of Dreams Hero Award include New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, tennis legend Andre Agassi, Rangers great Adam Graves, Emmy Award-winning producer Rory Rosegarten, legendary artist Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, model/actor Damaris Lewis, Knicks broadcaster and Today Show contributor Jill Martin, and the band O.A.R. and its frontman Marc Roberge.

Schirripa is best known for his current role in "Blue Bloods" and previous role as Bobby Bacala in "The Sopranos." He is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and a member of the Garden of Dreams Foundation advisory board.

The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization that works with The Madison Square Garden Company and MSG Networks, Inc. to positively impact the lives of children facing obstacles. The Foundation works with 30 partner organizations throughout the tri-state area, including hospitals, wish organizations and community-based organizations, to reach children who are facing challenges such as homelessness, extreme poverty, illness and foster care.

Since it began in 2006, Garden of Dreams has used the magic of MSG and MSG Networks - including the Knicks, Rangers, Rockettes, Westchester Knicks, famed showplaces and two sports and entertainment networks - to brighten the lives of more than 375,000 children and their families. The Foundation takes pride in its commitment to truly change lives, hosting more than 500 events and programs each year.

In addition, through its Garden of Dreams Giving program, the Foundation provides grants that fund important projects such as the refurbishment of gymnasiums and pediatric areas at local hospitals, and the construction of new dance and music studios. The Foundation also meets the critical needs of college-bound high school seniors by providing four-year scholarships to help students achieve their educational goals.

Garden of Laughs, presented by Delta Air Lines, is a biennial all-star comedy benefit that has raised nearly $5 million for the charity since its inception. This year's show, hosted by Steve Schirripa, included performances by Jerry Seinfeld along with Bill Burr, Michael Che, John Mulaney, Brian Regan, Iliza Shlesinger and Jon Stewart and took place at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, with all net proceeds going directly to Garden of Dreams.

For more information on the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the programs it runs, and the children it serves, please visit www.GardenofDreamsFoundation.org