(May 1, 2012, New York, NY) — UJA-Federation of New York brought together hundreds of top sports industry executives and professionals to join in honoring Joe Steranka, chief executive officer of The PGA of America, at UJA-Federation's Sports for Youth Luncheon on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Grand Hyatt New York. Steranka was recognized as the Sports for Youth Honoree of the Year, which celebrates industry leaders who demonstrate a strong commitment to caring for the community.

(l-r): Jimmy Roberts, commentator for NBC Sports and author; Donna Orender, Sports for Youth chair and CEO of Orender Unlimited; Joe Steranka, Sports for Youth honoree and CEO of The PGA of America; Junior Bridgeman, restaurateur and former member of The PGA of America Board of Directors; and Russell E. Wolff, Sports for Youth chair and executive vice president and managing director of ESPN International. (Photo: UJA-Federation of New York)

Jimmy Roberts, commentator for NBC Sports and author, emceed the event chaired by former Sports for Youth honoree Russell E. Wolff, executive vice president and managing director of ESPN International, and former Sports for Youth honoree Donna Orender, CEO of Orender Unlimited.

"I can think of no greater deed than sharing the gift of sports with young people in America," Steranka said. "Virtually everyone in this room was involved in sports in some way shape or form, and it helped us develop our competitive drive, our ability to work with others as a team, and certainly results in a lot of who we are today."

Among those who came out to support Steranka were event chairs Peter Land, senior vice president, Communications, PepsiCo; David Stern, commissioner, National Basketball Association; Junior Bridgeman, restaurateur and former member of The PGA of America Board of Directors; Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group; Jimmy Roberts; John Skipper, president, ESPN, Inc. and co-chairman, Disney Media Networks; Frank Supovitz, senior vice president, Events at National Football League; and Heidi Ueberroth, president, NBA International National Basketball Association.

About Sports for Youth
Through direct grants to local agencies, Sports for Youth, an initiative of UJA-Federation of New York, affirms the healing effect of sports on children by making it possible for UJA-Federation's network of beneficiary agencies to refurbish decaying sports courts and facilities serving children of all ethnic and religious backgrounds, and enabling children of all ages and athletic abilities to rehabilitate themselves and enjoy sports.

About UJA-Federation of New York
For more than 90 years, UJA-Federation has been a central force for communal planning and philanthropy in the New York Jewish community. Through UJA-Federation, more than 60,000 donors pool their resources to help people in need, inspire a passion for Jewish life and learning, and strengthen Jewish communities around the world — to address the issues that matter to us most as Jews and as New Yorkers. Working with more than 100 network beneficiary agencies, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations, our reach spans from New York to Israel to more than 60 other countries around the world, touching 4.5 million people each year. Because we do the most good when we do it together. For more information, please visit our website at www.ujafedny.org.

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Joe Steranka, PGA CEO, Gets Sports for Youth Honor (UJA-Federation of New York)