Yankees Broadcaster Michael Kay Helps New York Chapter Raise Money For Make-A-Wish Foundation

The New York Chapter of NAFA featured Michael Kay at its annual Holiday Meeting at Ben and Jack's Steak House on December 8. A packed room came to hear Kay, network, and take their chance at winning great raffle prizes. Proceeds from the raffle went to the New York Metro Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Kay is the television play-by-play broadcaster of the New York Yankees, host of CenterStage on the YES Network, and the host of "The Michael Kay Show" heard on ESPN Radio. He spoke about such topics as his recent engagement to News 12 anchor Jodi Applegate, his career in entertainment, and the Derek Jeter contract talks.

"One thing people don't know about Jeter is that Derek is an elephant — he never forgets a slight," said Kay as he described the bad blood that took place during contract negotiations.

Now entering his 20th year as the voice of the Yankees, Kay (a Bronx native) said he knew that broadcasting was his ticket to the Yankees since he wasn't that good of a ballplayer. He candidly answered questions about his favorite and least favorite interviews on the CenterStage show, specific questions on local teams, including the Giants, Jets, Knicks, and Yankees; whether he thinks there will be a strike in the NFL; and ticket prices.

"PSLs are corporate extortion," he said when asked about how high ticket prices could go. "You're making people pay money for the right to pay money."

Mike Brogan, a volunteer with the New York Metro Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, said this was the third Christmas the New York Chapter has chosen Make-A-Wish as its holiday charity.

"It's been a terrific on-going relationship," said Brogan. "Through your support, we are able to give these kids something to look forward to. We're able to make the children smile and give them a memory other than the hospital and the horrors they face each day."

Prior to this year's event, the New York Chapter had already raised over $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Thanks to the generous raffle prizes donate from local sports teams and NAFA Affiliates, that number is much higher now.

For more information on the NAFA New York Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation visit www.metrony.wish.org. The national organization is at www.wish.org.