Joe Steranka, CEO of The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA), was honored at a large gathering held by the UJA- Federation of NY at its Youth Luncheon earlier this month. According to a report published on PGA.com, hundreds of top sports industry execs convened at the Grand Hyatt New York to recognize the CEO as the Sports for Youth Honoree of the Year. The award is given to an executive who has demonstrated care for the community in his professional sport business endeavors.
The event was hosted by NBC Sports commentator and author Jimmy Roberts, and chaired by former recipient of Steranka’s award, Russell E. Wolff, executive vice president and managing director of ESPN International, and another former Sports for Youth honoree, Donna Orender, CEO of Orender Unlimited.
“I can think of no greater deed than sharing the gift of sports with young people in America,” Steranka said, according to PGA.com. “Virtually everyone in this room was involved in sports in some way shape or form, and it helped us develop our competitive drive, our ability to work with others as a team, and certainly results in a lot of who we are today.”
Others who came out to honor Steranka include Peter Land, senior vice president, Communications, PepsiCo; David Stern, commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA); Junior Bridgeman, restaurateur and former member of The PGA of America Board of Directors; Mark Lazarus, chairman of NBC Sports Group; Jimmy Roberts; John Skipper, president, ESPN, Inc. and co-chairman, Disney Media Networks; Frank Supovitz, senior vice president, Events at National Football League (NFL); and Heidi Ueberroth, president, NBA International, National Basketball Association.
