(NEW YORK, NY) -- The Garden of Dreams Foundation has awarded legendary actor and comedian Tracy Morgan the 2022 Garden of Dreams Hero Award. Established in 2009, the annual Hero Award honors organizations or individuals that embody the spirit of the Garden of Dreams Foundation through an active and ongoing dedication to positively impacting the lives of children facing obstacles, while serving as a driving force and inspiration for others. NY Giants legend Carl Banks and Former NY Knicks star Allan Houston presented Morgan, a lifelong Knicks fan, with the award onstage at the 2022 Garden of Dreams Talent Show, which took place April 13th at Radio City Music Hall.
As a Garden of Dreams Foundation advisory board member, Morgan has demonstrated unwavering support for the Foundation and the children and families it serves. Over the many years he has been involved with the Foundation, Morgan has participated in and attended a variety of events, where he has met and positively impacted many young people and their families. In 2017, Morgan performed at the biennial Garden of Laughs comedy benefit at Hulu Theater at MSG, and appeared at the 2019 event as a presenter. Those two benefit shows, combined, raised more than $4 million directly for Garden of Dreams – ensuring the Foundation can continue to create memorable experiences that enhance and bring joy to young people’s lives. Most recently, Morgan served as a mentor for the more than 100 children that participated in last night’s Talent Show, the 14th edition of the event.
“I was one of those kids. So, for me to be here and do my part, I’m happy,” said Tracy Morgan after receiving the 2022 Garden of Dreams Hero Award. “That trophy is dedicated to all the young people that are dancing and performing their hearts out. For all of them. Not me. . . . I’m a small part of it.”
“We are honored to present Tracy Morgan with the 2022 Garden of Dreams Hero Award,” said Rich Constable, executive vice president, global head of government affairs and social impact, Madison Square Garden Entertainment. “Tracy’s steadfast dedication to the Garden of Dreams Foundation – as an advisory board member, Garden of Laughs entertainer and talent show mentor – ensures we can continue to positively impact families in our community, and his enthusiastic support brightens their lives with laughter and joy.”
The Garden of Dreams Hero Award was established in 2009. Past recipients of the award include tennis legend Andre Agassi; sports radio personalities Mike Francesa and Chris Russo; Rangers great Adam Graves; model/actor Damaris Lewis; New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist; NY Knicks broadcaster and Today Show contributor Jill Martin; legendary artist and talent show creative director Darryl "DMC" McDaniels; the band O.A.R. and its frontman Marc Roberge; Michael Roberts, the former director of Garden of Dreams partner organization Children’s Aid Society; Emmy Award-winning producer Rory Rosegarten; and actor Steve Schirippa.
In partnership with MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports, the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity, provides young people in our communities with life-changing access to educational and skills opportunities, mentoring programs and memorable experiences that enhance their lives, help shape their futures and create lasting joy. The Foundation focuses on young people facing illness or financial challenges, as well as children of uniformed personnel who have been lost or injured while serving our communities. Since its inception in 2006, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has impacted more than 400,000 young people and their families.
Over the past two years, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has focused on both engaging its young people and their families through virtual programming, and providing tangible support to the families and communities it works with – many of whom were among the most severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring of 2020, Garden of Dreams launched the $1 million COVID Relief Grant program, redirecting the remainder of its 2020 grant allocation to provide dedicated relief funding to 26 tri-state area partner organizations to help support vulnerable young people and their families. In addition to the grant program, the Garden of Dreams Foundation, with the support of MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports, has helped in the fight against food insecurity by distributing over 50,000 meals to families in need during the pandemic.
The Garden of Dreams Talent Show is an annual event giving young people from Garden of Dreams partner organizations the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform onstage at Radio City Music Hall. This year’s event marked the 14th iteration of the Talent Show, which returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and included performers who were slated to perform in 2020 in addition to performers who joined the lineup following this year’s auditions.
The Garden of Dreams Foundation is a non-profit charity dedicated to bringing life changing opportunities to young people in need. In partnership with MSG Entertainment – which features famed showplaces, regional sports and entertainment television networks, the Rockettes and TAO Group Hospitality – and MSG Sports – which includes the Knicks, Rangers and Westchester Knicks – Garden of Dreams provides access to educational and skills opportunities, mentoring programs and memorable experiences that enhance young peoples’ lives, help shape their futures and create lasting joy. All of the Foundation’s activities are driven by four guiding principles – Education, Inspiration, Grants and Moments of Joy – and target young people facing illness or financial challenges, as well as children of uniformed personnel who have been lost or injured while serving our communities. Since its inception in 2006, the Garden of Dreams Foundation has impacted more than 400,000 young people and their families.
