GENEVA — Former professional boxer Ray Ciancaglini, an award-winning concussion awareness activist, scored a fundraising knockout on stage recently at the renowned Cutting Room in New York City.
At an event sponsored by The Brain Injury Association of New York State, Ciancaglini visited with patrons and signed more than 200 complimentary copies of his book, “Second Impact: The Ray Ciancaglini Story,” before delivering a 40-minute speech that drew a standing ovation.
The evening raised $33,000 for The Brain Injury Association. The Cutting Room in Manhattan has featured stars such as Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.
At its new location on East 32nd Street between Park and Madison, The Cutting Room builds on a decade of history that includes some of today’s top performers. John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Sting, Sheryl Crow and David Bowie are just some of the artists that have graced the stage of the Cutting Room.
“The success and support of the fundraising evening was very humbling, but gratifying to raise Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness and raise much-needed funds for an impeccable organization, the Brain Injury Association of New York State under the direction of Eileen Reardon and her dedicated staff,” Ciancaglini said. “The association is highly regarded as one of the best in the country. I was also humbled to perform on the same stage as Joel and Springsteen.”
The law firm Siegel & Coonerty of Manhattan was the main sponsor of the evening. Andy Siegel is an award-winning personal injury attorney who has a devoted passion for helping those with brain injuries. He is the author of the “The Ray Ciancaglini Story” and has arranged keynote speeches for Ciancaglini at the Cleveland Clinic, Tulane University, Columbia University, University of New England and the University of Maine.
Ciancaglini’s mission is to help educate and protect today’s young athletes from the harm that can result by “playing through” a concussion. He makes it very real by sharing the mistake he made in ignoring the symptoms of a concussion and the lifelong consequences he has suffered as a result. He started The Second Impact organization to raise awareness, offer support and encourage being honest about concussion symptoms.