New York Knicks’ Allan Houston to be honored by Greenwich Historical Society
New York Knicks’ star and executive Allan Houston is among those who will be honored by the Greenwich Historical Society at its fundraising History in the Making Dinner on Oct. 12.
A two-time NBA All-Star who played for 12 years with the Detroit Pistons and the Knicks, for whom he is now vice president of player leadership and development, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic basketball team (2000, Sydney) and a longtime Greenwich resident, Houston created the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation to support underserved youth, families and communities nationwide through its partnerships, coaching clinics and family programming. Houston also founded FISLL, a social impact brand committed to helping people live better lives based on the five fundamentals of faith, integrity, sacrifice, leadership and legacy, which he credits for his success as an athlete and in life.
“I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of (investor Ray and Barbara Dalio) and other larger-than-life individuals who were honored with this award,” Houston said. “My greatest satisfaction in life is from providing a foundation for young people to reach their full potential. This award is a testament to the impact my colleagues at FISLL and the Legacy Foundation are having with our country’s children.”
The Dalios will be on hand to present the award, while Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the NHL’s New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Islanders, will conduct a fireside chat with Houston. Meanwhile, Donna de Varona – two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist and the first female broadcaster for ABC’s “Wide World of Sports — will present career achievement awards to outstanding Greenwich sports coaches. They are Nick Cavataro, Greenwich YWCA; Pat Coleman Greenwich Youth Lacrosse; Sarah Hill, Sacred Heart Greenwich; Katie Johnson, Greenwich Academy; Steve Lapham, Greenwich High School; Terry Lowe, Greenwich High School; Bill Smith, Greenwich Youth Water Polo; and Jim Stephens, Brunswick School. Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to Angela Tammaro, Greenwich Academy, and posthumously to Jack Jepson, Greenwich Country Day School.
“Sports are a great unifying force in our community,” said Debra Mecky, executive director and CEO of the historical society, whose exhibit “Sports! More Than Just a Game” concluded Sept. 3. “We are fortunate to have such superstars as Allan Houston and Donna de Varona to set examples for our children and a large roster of talented coaches who are dedicated to helping them succeed in sports and life. It is a privilege to recognize them at this year’s event, focused on the vibrant history of sports in Greenwich and the athletes and coaches who have impacted our past and future.”
Established in 2003, History in the Making recognizes outstanding individuals from the community who are the history makers of our time for having had a beneficial effect on the region and the world and provides a forum for learning about their thought-provoking ideas and perspectives.
Proceeds from this year’s event will help expand and enhance the historical society’s exhibits and education programs, which are at the heart of its mission. A longstanding partnership with Title I schools has brought high-quality arts and history education to more than 3,600 students since its inception. For more, click here.
Six days later, the historical society opens “Radical Pots & Cooperative Hands: Katherine Choy and Clay Art Center” (Oct. 18 through Feb. 4).
Featuring a selection of Choy’s distinctive and boundary-pushing ceramic vessels alongside never-before-seen photographs, letters, and other archival material, the exhibition charts Katherine Choy’s rapid rise to prominence and influence in the field of American studio ceramics in the mid-1950s, her indelible influence as an educator and her dedication to forming a cooperative studio space for ceramic artists to thrive in Port Chester.
“Katherine Choy was a pioneering figure in the emergent world of mid-20th century American studio ceramics, and her widely exhibited clay vessels explored many of the same formal ideas that were at play in the concurrent field of Abstract Expressionist painting,” said Maggie Dimock, the historical society’s curator of exhibitions and collections. “Her technical proficiency, visionary style and personal charisma came together in the founding of the Clay Art Center in 1957, a life’s dream Choy realized with co-founder Henry Okamoto of Greenwich. This was all achieved at the young age of 29, and it is made more poignant by Choy’s unexpected death the following year (from undiagnosed pneumonia). Greenwich Historical Society is privileged to partner with Clay Art Center to present this exhibition of Choy’s distinctive, groundbreaking works created during her time at Clay Art Center.”
For more, click here.