The Hurley in the Morning Charity Delivers $40,000 and an Example of What a Non-Partisan America Could Be Like
By HARRY HURLEY
Political Columnist
The Hurley Line:
On Friday, April 12, 2019, more than 265 people participated in the 11th Annual “Hurley in the Morning” Charity Dinner and Silent Auction held at the fabulous Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City.
Our event at Resorts raised $ 40,000, which will enable the “Hurley in the Morning” Charity to write many much-needed grants for not-for-profit organizations throughout our community and beyond.
Our Guest of honor and keynote speaker was Fox News personality Todd Starnes. Starnes is the host of his daily Fox News Radio nationally syndicated radio talk show, “The Todd Starnes Show.” He is also a Fox News Channel star, Fox Nation Television (host of Starnes Country) and a best-selling author of multiple books.
His national program broadcast from Resorts, live from our charity event. Mark Giannantonio, Harry Hurley and Paul Rotella all made national appearances with Todd.
Each of our guests received a copy of Starnes’ book “The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again.” Starnes personally autographed each book live from the event and included a personal inscription. Todd and I also spent three hours having a meet and greet with each guest and posed for a photo under our large event “step and repeat” special event banner.
Our annual event has really become such a labor of love to produce. First, I must attempt to properly thank Resorts President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Giannantonio, Jean Price and their amazing team for their supreme efforts to make our event (now twice held at Resorts) so incredibly meaningful and successful.
I literally can’t find the words to appropriately thank Mark, Jean, Ed Batten, Eva Campbell, Joan Evans, Bill Schmal, Ed Hannon and so many other exemplary Resorts team members.
Our event directly touches the following Resorts Casino Hotel Departments: Executive branch, Hotel Front Services, Food and Beverage, Catering and Convention Services, Transportation, Security, Front Desk, Reservations, Communications, Entertainment and others.
Their many efforts and incredible attention to detail has made our event so wonderful. Even before this year’s event had taken place, we had already committed to returning next year on Friday, April 17, 2020 to Resorts Casino Hotel Atlantic City. We have our Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker set for next year. We’ll announce it later this year on the “Hurley in the Morning” program.
I have so many people to thank, Our event Committee: Margie Hurley, Karen Hurley McDonald, Joseph Huntenburg, Gayle Collins and our Photographer, Don Hurley. They are so committed to the success of our event. Many photos will follow shortly.
The Reception food and beverage and our three course dinner was not banquet quality. It was every bit gourmet quality. It was as though one small table was being served and not hundreds of people all at the same time.
Regarding the event itself. Our list of attendees reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of our highest leaders in government at the national, state, county and local levels; along with the area’s finest in business, industry and philanthropy.
United States Congressman, Jeff Van Drew welcomed our guests and introduced me. Congressman Van Drew was so kind in his introduction and demonstrated that he is a true statesman in our challenging times. We have been close friends for 30 years. Van Drew spoke at our event on his 100th day in the House of Representatives. He stayed until the very end of our event.
I had the pleasure to introduce our New Jersey State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who delivered a positive message of unity during our program. Again, Steve and I have been good friends for almost thirty years.
Paul Rotella, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association demonstrated the meaning of what true friendship is all about. Paul had a prepaid Las Vegas trip that conflicted with our Charity Dinner. Paul cancelled his trip; He forfeited his money and instead decided to attend our event.
Paul made a surprise breaking news exclusive announcement at our event. He announced that on Thursday, June 13, 2019. The New Jersey Broadcasters will introduce the first-ever New Jersey “Broadcaster of the Year” Award.
I was beyond humbled that (live at our special event) Paul announced that the inaugural recipient at the upcoming NJBA June 12-13, 2019 Gala (to be held at The Tropicana Casino Hotel) will be me. I am beyond grateful to Paul and the NJBA selection committee for this special recognition that every broadcaster in our state strives to achieve.
Our country is presently so divided. I wish everyone could have been with us to see Republican, Democrat, Independent and unaffiliated Americans gather together in such a respectful manner. There was not one bad word shared amongst anyone.
It was not a bi-partisan event. It was a truly non-partisan event. It’s an example as to how our country used to be. I strongly believe that we can become this way, again in this era.
In the end, we attracted so many people with divergent ideologies and who no doubt have significant differences in the philosophy of governance. None of that mattered at our dinner.
“We aren’t Republicans and Democrats. We are all Americans.” When I spoke these words, our large crowd erupted in agreement. I desperately want us to become this kind of nation, again. I know that we can do it. What we need to achieve this is more leaders like Jeff Van Drew, Steve Sweeney, Chris Brown and Denny Levinson.
We need to embrace people (regardless of their party affiliation) who love our country more than their political party. The present divisiveness in our politics is toxic and we must band together and put a stop to it. Or else, we are going to lose our country.
I want to thank Todd Starnes for lending his star power to our annual charity event. Todd delivered a beautiful speech that was kind, eloquent, humble, serious and humorous; all at the same time.
And, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to each and every one of our hundreds of contributors who made our 11th Annual Charity Dinner & Silent Auction such a great success. We will now put your generous support to work for our community.
I get asked all of the time: Who are some of the not for profit organizations who directly benefit from your Charity’s efforts. You asked. Here is just a partial listing as follows:
After 11-plus years, because of the unselfish commitment and support of our great community, we have raised more than $ 800,000, which has enabled us to provide much-needed grants to wonderful not-for-profit charities.
We have made substantial donations to:
The Shore Medical Center Foundation … $ 110,000 total over the past 11 years); The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for designated Drivers … more than $ 80,000); Stockton University Foundation … more than $ 30,000; Atlantic City Aquarium $ 15,000); Hometown Heroes ($ 2,500); Cookie Till’s “A Work in Progress” ($ 2,500); The Tara Miller Foundation ($ 5,000); The Philadelphia Broadcasters Association ($ 10,000); The New Jersey Broadcasters Association ($ 7,000); The Broadcasters Foundation of America ($ 1,000); Atlantic City Sandpipers ($ 9,000); Atlantic Prevention Resources ($ 1,500); Atlantic County Toys 4 Kids ($ 1,000); Atlantic City High School Hall of Fame ($ 1,000 for 2015 & 2016); The Greater Atlantic City Concierge Association ($ 6,000 over the past 6 years); The Fund for Cape May ($ 500); Lucy The Elephant ($ 500); Absecon Presbyterian Church ($ 1,500 over the past 3 years); Atlantic Shore Babe Ruth 13 & Under ($ 1,500 over the past 4 years); Gilda’s Club South Jersey ($ 3,000 over the past 5 years), Atlantic City Rescue Mission ($ 100), Cape Assist ($ 250), The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention ($ 240); Lyrics for Life ($ 240); Liberty & Prosperity ($ 100); April Kauffman/War Sports ($ 4,000 during the past 4 years); EHT High School (Spring Trip); Every Breath Counts ($ 300); MBCA ($ 250 per-year); Chuck’s 3 on 3 Charity ($ 500); The Connelly Northfield Mile ($ 200); The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City ($ 500); Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Atlantic City ($ 500); Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation ($ 500); Community Food Bank Southern Branch ($ 1,000) and Deborah Heart Foundation ($ 1,000); FACES 4 Austism ($ 1,000); HERO Campaign($ 500); Stop The Heroin.org ($ 250); Absecon Presbyterian Church ($ 500); The Fund for Cape May ($ 500); Gilda’s Club South Jersey ($ 1,000); Chuck’s 3 on 3 Charity ($ 500); Tara Miller Melanoma Foundation ($ 1,000); Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation ($ 500); Northfield Mile ($ 200); Broadcasters Foundation of America ($ 1,000); The Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty ($ 1,000); John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers ($ 1,500); Faces 4 Autism ($ 1,000); Shore Medical Foundation ($ 10,000); Chief Arthur Brown Scholarship Foundation ($ 500); Stockton University Foundation ($ 1,000); Atlantic County Toys 4 Kids ($ 1,000); Atlantic County 4H ($ 500); Atlantic City Aquarium ($ 1,000); Holy Spirit High School ($ 1,000); United Way Atlantic County ($ 1,000); Atlantic County Institute of Technology ($ 1,000); Atlantic City Rescue Mission ($ 1,000(; HERO Campaign ($ 500); Mays Landing Athletic Association – MLAA ($ 500); Atlantic Prevention Resources ($ 500); Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation ($ 250); Liberty & Prosperity ($ 250); Cape Assist ($ 250); HERO CAMPAIGN ($ 250); Pleasantville Police Foundation ($ 250); New Jersey Broadcasters Association ($ 1,000); Hope Foundation ($ 500); St. Patrick’s Cathedral ($ 100); Heart of Surfing ($ 500); Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ($ 1,000); St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ($ 250); FACES 4 Autism ($ 1,000); MBCA ($ 450); Operation empowerment – Kaitlyn Schoeffel ($ 250); NJ FFA Association – Blue Jackets – Bright Futures ($ 350); Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia ($ 2,000); Absecon Presbyterian Church ($ 1,000); 18th Annual “Be A HERO Golf Tournament – Golf Twosome, Option One ($ 1,000); Atlantic City Rotary ($ 100); Atlantic City Ballet ($ 250); Gilda’s Club South Jersey ($ 1,000); Cookie Till’s “A Work in Progress” ($ 500); Atlantic City High School Track Booster Club ($ 500); The Northfield Mile ($ 250); Broadcasters Foundation of America ($ 2,000); American Legion Post # 352 ($ 500); Absecon Lighthouse ($ 1,000); The Alcove Center ($ 500); Patcong Creek Foundation ($ 1,000); Atlantic County Toys 4 Kids ($ 1,000); Atlantic City Sandpipers ($ 1,000); Cakert Family – Chuck’s 3 on 3 ($ 2,000); Tara Miller Cancer Foundation ($ 3,000); Shore Medical Center Foundation ($ 15,000); Camp Pals ($ 1,500); Atlantic County Institute of Technology ($ 1,000); American Legion Riders – Post 353 ($ 1,000); American Legion Post 352 ($ 500); Dean Randazzo Cancer Foundation ($ 500); Stockton University Foundation – Joan Fineran Nursing Scholarship ($ 1,000); New Jersey Broadcasters Association ( $ 1.000); Holy Spirit High School ($ 1,000); Atlantic Shore Babe Ruth ($ 500); Atlantic Prevention Resources – Linzner Memorial ($ 500); Atlantic City Rescue Mission ($ 500); Fresh Start Church – EHT ($ 500); Cape Assist ($ 500); United Way of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey ($ 500); American Legion Riders – Post 352 ($ 500); Lucy The Elephant ($ 200); Deborah Heart & Lung Center Foundation – Red Tie Gala ($ 1,000); Guatemala Dentistry Project – Mayan Medical Aid, Inc. ($ 500); Miss America Foundation ($ 500); MBCA ($ 250); Crime Stoppers of Atlantic County ($ 500); Atlantic Christian School – Haiti project ($ 250); Chief Arthur Brown Memorial Scholarship ($ 500); Egg Harbor Township Dog Park ($ 500); St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ( $ 250); Patcong Creek Foundation – to fund their new Broadcast Studio at their Science Center in Somers Point; Philadelphia 76ers Youth Foundation – 4th Annual Gala ($ 500); New Jersey FFA Alumni Association ($ 1,000).
Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program “Hurley in the Morning” 6-10 a.m., weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 104.1 FM & 1450 AM, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant. Harry was elected to both the Philadelphia (2013) and New Jersey (2015) Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Harry Hurley has also been selected (2015-2018) as one of the Top 100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America by Talkers Magazine. Hurley is also doing national fill-in, on-air talent work for FOX News Radio on their nationally syndicated platforms. He has hosted various programs for local television and is the editor and publisher of his news and information website, www.harryhurley.com. Send comments to HarryHurley@aol.com
