Honig presents Olympic medalists Cejudo and Miller with bonus checks to celebrate in style
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by Jerry Milani
Benefactor Ken Honig (center) poses with Olympic medalists Henry Cejudo and Randi Miller during celebration in New Jersey. Jerry Milani photo
Click here to see photos from Olympic celebration party
For Ken Honig, giving back isn't simply a matter of choice - it's a necessity. Tonight, he showed just how important sharing is to him.
Prior to the Beijing Olympics, the Balboa Island, Calif., resident pledged $25,000 for each gold medal brought home by a U.S. wrestler, $15,000 for a silver and $5,000 for a bronze.
At a Labor Day Weekend party hosted tonight at the Upper Saddle River, N.J., home of fellow USA Wrestling supporter Dan McCabe and his wife Amy, Honig presented checks to Henry Cejudo, the 55kg freestyle Gold medalist, and Randi Miller, the 63kg women's freestyle bronze winner.
A check was presented, in his absence, to Adam Wheeler, who also won bronze at 96kg Greco-Roman. Wheeler was unable to attend due to his professional responsibility to the police academy.
"As a former wrestler, I recognize the amount of sacrifice that goes into achieving the level of success that Henry and Randi exemplify," said Honig as he greeted the pair of champions at the event. "Even to get to the collegiate level, these athletes sacrifice the things that their peers enjoy, and I respect and love the self-discipline they display as they work towards their goals."
It is particularly fitting that Cejudo is among the recipients, as he and Honig share more than a few common bonds. As they got to know each other at tonight's event, the two learned of roots that extend to the same poor area of Phoenix.
"Every year I go fishing with seven special friends of mine who I grew up with in South Phoenix, just a few blocks from Henry's family," added Honig. "I know where he came from, and I had a similarly difficult set of circumstances to overcome when I was young. But I am a firm believer that in this country you are limited only by the restrictions you put on yourself. We all get 24 hours in a day; I have always chosen to 'live the heck' out of those 24 every day.
"After meeting Henry, I am confident he is similar in those desires. His is the true American Dream story. It's so perfect, and meshes so well with my own, that my friends think we only thought of doing this after it was Henry that won."
Something of an adventurer - next week he heads to the French Alps for some extreme mountain climbing - Honig also spent some time with Miller, as the two playfully shared a few wrestling techniques. Miller was excited to be an honored guest of the day.
"I am very grateful for Mr. Honig's commitment to us," said Miller in between signing dozens of shirts and hats and posing for even more photos, many with pre-teen girls who may have found a new role model. "I thank him for recognizing my accomplishment and rewarding me for it."
Miller joined Cejudo in greeting more than 100 guests at the home of McCabe, the CEO of Next Investments. The two displayed their medals, chatted with guests and helped with a live auction that raised thousands of dollars for USA Wrestling.
McCabe's generosity in opening his home was pivotal in the fundraising effort, and his philanthropic outlook mirrored that of Honig.
"I have been fortunate in many, many perspectives in my life, and I see this as a way to give back to something important to me," said McCabe, who has been a supporter of USA Wrestling for more than four years. "The idea was to get younger children, my own and those of my friends and neighbors, to meet Randi and Henry, two such fine examples of what hard work can achieve. Here are two elite athletes and great people, just a few years older than them, than have accomplished so much."
The evening was a fitting culmination of sorts for the highly successful "Fuel the Dream" program, which assisted the families of Olympic wrestlers with travel expenses to Beijing. The support of many donors helped fund those trips and also will continue to benefit athletes on future World and Olympic wrestling teams.
"The generosity of Ken Honig and Dan McCabe has been instrumental in the success of 'Fuel the Dream,'" said Larry Nugent, Director of Development for USA Wrestling, who took a turn at the Auctioneer's role tonight before ceding the microphone for the last few items. "Their support benefits the more than 160,000 young Americans for whom USA Wrestling provides opportunities that they may not otherwise have. On behalf of Henry, Randi, Adam and all those members, I'd like to acknowledge their kindness in helping us to do that."
Click here to see photos from Olympic celebration party
For Ken Honig, giving back isn't simply a matter of choice - it's a necessity. Tonight, he showed just how important sharing is to him.
Prior to the Beijing Olympics, the Balboa Island, Calif., resident pledged $25,000 for each gold medal brought home by a U.S. wrestler, $15,000 for a silver and $5,000 for a bronze.
At a Labor Day Weekend party hosted tonight at the Upper Saddle River, N.J., home of fellow USA Wrestling supporter Dan McCabe and his wife Amy, Honig presented checks to Henry Cejudo, the 55kg freestyle Gold medalist, and Randi Miller, the 63kg women's freestyle bronze winner.
A check was presented, in his absence, to Adam Wheeler, who also won bronze at 96kg Greco-Roman. Wheeler was unable to attend due to his professional responsibility to the police academy.
"As a former wrestler, I recognize the amount of sacrifice that goes into achieving the level of success that Henry and Randi exemplify," said Honig as he greeted the pair of champions at the event. "Even to get to the collegiate level, these athletes sacrifice the things that their peers enjoy, and I respect and love the self-discipline they display as they work towards their goals."
It is particularly fitting that Cejudo is among the recipients, as he and Honig share more than a few common bonds. As they got to know each other at tonight's event, the two learned of roots that extend to the same poor area of Phoenix.
"Every year I go fishing with seven special friends of mine who I grew up with in South Phoenix, just a few blocks from Henry's family," added Honig. "I know where he came from, and I had a similarly difficult set of circumstances to overcome when I was young. But I am a firm believer that in this country you are limited only by the restrictions you put on yourself. We all get 24 hours in a day; I have always chosen to 'live the heck' out of those 24 every day.
"After meeting Henry, I am confident he is similar in those desires. His is the true American Dream story. It's so perfect, and meshes so well with my own, that my friends think we only thought of doing this after it was Henry that won."
Something of an adventurer - next week he heads to the French Alps for some extreme mountain climbing - Honig also spent some time with Miller, as the two playfully shared a few wrestling techniques. Miller was excited to be an honored guest of the day.
"I am very grateful for Mr. Honig's commitment to us," said Miller in between signing dozens of shirts and hats and posing for even more photos, many with pre-teen girls who may have found a new role model. "I thank him for recognizing my accomplishment and rewarding me for it."
Miller joined Cejudo in greeting more than 100 guests at the home of McCabe, the CEO of Next Investments. The two displayed their medals, chatted with guests and helped with a live auction that raised thousands of dollars for USA Wrestling.
McCabe's generosity in opening his home was pivotal in the fundraising effort, and his philanthropic outlook mirrored that of Honig.
"I have been fortunate in many, many perspectives in my life, and I see this as a way to give back to something important to me," said McCabe, who has been a supporter of USA Wrestling for more than four years. "The idea was to get younger children, my own and those of my friends and neighbors, to meet Randi and Henry, two such fine examples of what hard work can achieve. Here are two elite athletes and great people, just a few years older than them, than have accomplished so much."
The evening was a fitting culmination of sorts for the highly successful "Fuel the Dream" program, which assisted the families of Olympic wrestlers with travel expenses to Beijing. The support of many donors helped fund those trips and also will continue to benefit athletes on future World and Olympic wrestling teams.
"The generosity of Ken Honig and Dan McCabe has been instrumental in the success of 'Fuel the Dream,'" said Larry Nugent, Director of Development for USA Wrestling, who took a turn at the Auctioneer's role tonight before ceding the microphone for the last few items. "Their support benefits the more than 160,000 young Americans for whom USA Wrestling provides opportunities that they may not otherwise have. On behalf of Henry, Randi, Adam and all those members, I'd like to acknowledge their kindness in helping us to do that."
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