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Schwartz: Marty Lyons Foundation's Celebrity Golf Classic Marks 30-Year Anniversary

By Peter Schwartz
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During his 11-year NFL career, Marty Lyons made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks as a defensive lineman for the Jets. But for the last 33 years, Lyons has been putting smiles on the faces of children by making dreams come true.

Established in 1982, the Marty Lyons Foundation grants the special wishes of children ages 3 to 17 who have been diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness by providing and arranging for special wish requests.

The foundation has generated over $35 million and in the process helped some 7,100 children. A big part of the annual efforts has been the foundation's celebrity golf outing, which celebrates its 30th anniversary on July 13 at the Old Westbury Golf and Country Club on Long Island.

"When you celebrate 30 straight years of doing the golf tournament, it's a great feeling," Lyons said. "It's even better to see all the guys that were there 30 years ago that are still involved."

Since its launch, the golf classic has generated $9 million for the foundation, which now has 10 chapters covering 13 states. Monday's program begins at 9:30 a.m. with registration and brunch. There's a shotgun start at 11:30 a.m. followed by cocktails and dinner with awards and raffle at 5:30 p.m. A silent auction will be in progress throughout the day.

As part of the event, the foundation honors its man of the year and the 2015 recipient is Bobby Jordan, the President of the Long Island Sanitation Equipment Company.

"We look at people and see who's active in the community, number one, and are they always there to give you their support and how active they've been with the foundation themselves," Lyons said.

Jordan has been involved in the foundation for about 10 years and is also involved with other charitable organizations on Long Island.

Rudy Giuliani
Former NYC mayor Rudy Giuliani, second from right, was among those honored. (Photo: Rob Gulotta)

Also being honored this year is former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is being presented with the foundation's lifetime achievement award. It's an honor that is only being given out for the second time.

"I feel that anytime you can give out a lifetime achievement award it has to be somebody who has touched your life, touched other people's lives, and has been a good leader and has a legacy that you really want to follow," Lyons said. "(Giuliani) has been very instrumental in the foundation and he's been a good friend of mine for at least 25 years."

The award has extra meaning for Lyons this year as it has been renamed the "Bill Gibney Lifetime Achievement Award." Gibney helped Lyons launch the foundation back in 1982 and passed away two weeks ago.

The timing of the golf classic is always unique for Lyons. Once the event is over on Monday, the members of the Jets' Ring of Honor an begin to look ahead to the upcoming NFL season. He's excited for Gang Green to get things going at training camp.

"I think one thing that they have to build is chemistry," said Lyons, who is a radio analyst for Jets game broadcasts. "You have a lot of players coming in with great reputations that can play football."

A major question mark for the Jets is certainly at the quarterback position. Will Geno Smith remain the starter or could he get beaten out in camp by Ryan Fitzpatrick? Lyons said Smith can be successful if he utilizes the tools for victory.

"Geno now has legitimate weapons around him," said Lyons. "I think Geno has to learn that as a quarterback in the NFL you don't have to win every game, but you have to manage every game."

Lyons has done a masterful job of managing his foundation over the years. A lot of hard work has gone into being able to make a different in the lives of terminally ill children. Monday's golf classic is just a part of what the foundation has been all about.

Along the way, Lyons has received plenty of support.

"It's been very rewarding to represent so many people, not just the children from the foundation and not just their families but all the volunteers that have donated their time and energy," Lyons said. "The foundation may have my name on it, but I represent their hard work and their dedication and their time."

Among the wishes that the foundation has granted over the years includes a trip to a Jets game, an art and music studio, a cruise, a room makeover, a Sweet 16 shopping spree, and a trip to Disney World.

For 33 years, Lyons and his foundation have been helping children, a special feeling knowing that he's been able to make a difference in somebody's life.

"We continue to try to do the best we can to preserve the time that they have and, God willing, he gives us one or two back along the way and tells us that the work you're doing is good," Lyons said.

After a job well done on the field during his NFL career, Lyons has been a success in the business world, the broadcast booth, and, most important to him, giving a child something that he or she could only have imagined.

You can still be a part of Monday's celebrity golf classic. Registration is available online here.

For more information about the Marty Lyons Foundation, please visit the organization's website.

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @pschwartzcbsfan. You can also follow the Marty Lyons Foundation @MartyLyonsFDN

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