By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
Ray Negron a contributing writer for the Bronx Chronicle, New York Yankees advisor and author was one of many honorees Monday evening at the Rotary Club of the Bronx Centennial Celebration. Negron received the Citizenship Award for his efforts and inspiration in visiting terminally sick children in hospitals with current and former Yankees players that have been a part of the Yankees tradition over the years.
Negron, a community consultant with the Yankees also supports inner-city youth in the New York City area and is founder of “Hank’s Yanks” a not for profit competitive youth travel baseball team of underprivileged kids between the ages of 10-18 that is sponsored by the Yankees and their co-owner Hank Steinbrenner.
Negron, an avid writer, has published four children’s books. HIs first, “The Boy of Steel” was number 2 on the NY Times bestseller list and is currently displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and his third book, “One Last Time: Goodbye to Yankee Stadium,” reached Number 1 on Amazon’s bestseller list.
Bronx Rotary is a part of Rotary international. The organization goes above and beyond the Bronx engaging in the community with individuals whose lives are transformed by charitable endeavors. The organization is highly focused on service both within the Bronx community and in the world. Local service projects have provided a vehicle for feeding the poor and homeless, given scholarships to youth, equipment and supplies to needy schools in the Bronx, emergency meals to the homebound elderly, and supported summer programs for Bronx young people.
Negron, also a producer of film developed the full length animated feature “Henry and Me” about a boy’s magical journey as he battles cancer, based on his children’s books. Voices for the animation include Richard Gere, Cyndi Lauper, Chazz Palminteri, Danny Aiello, Luis Guzman and Paul Simon all well known in the entertainment industry.
Accepting the award from Sandy Wolstein, Rotary Club of the Bronx President, Negron thanked the New York City Police officers and late Yankees principal owner George Steinbrenner who decades ago gave him a second chance after being caught spraying graffiti on a wall at the old Yankee Stadium.
“I have two sons that are police officers,” said Negron. “How important George Steinbrenner and people like him were to young people especially minorities who were just looking for hope and a chance in life.”
That Yankees pride is so much of Ray Negron. Prior to attending the event at the Greentree Country Club up in New Rochelle, NY, Negron stumbled upon a street named after Yankees legend and Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who was one of his all-time favorite Yankees along with Babe Ruth. With the assist of Google, Negron visited a house on a street where Gehrig purchased a house in 1928.
More about the Gehrig house can be seen here: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/02/15/lou-gehrig-house-for-sale/
More about the Bronx Rotary Club:
More about Ray Negron: www.batboyhelps.com
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