Nancy Kerrigan once again hosted the Stars, Stripes and Skates ICEtravaganza - the third annual 9/11 Commemorative Event benefiting the 911 Families Give Back Fund. On Friday, Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. top figure skaters, along with celebrities, sports personalities and live musicians wowed the sold-out crowd with a night to remember at the Cantiague Park Ice Arena.

Two-time Olympic medalist Philippe Candeloro, stealing the mike from host and fellow two time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, said, "Thank you so much for having me and I can't wait to come back next year." Just like last year, Philippe flew in from France especially for the event.

This year Lawrence G. Reuter and the men and women of the MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) were honored at Stars, Stripes and Skates. It is an honor to recognize the MTA and NYCT personnel for their humanitarian efforts in assisting the survivors in the chaos of that fateful day. Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi presented the award on behalf of the fund.

"The amount of support by everyone involved was absolutely outstanding. From volunteers on-site to in-kind donations from decorative companies, food concessionaires, logistical support, and the volunteer fire departments on Long Island, the overall involvement of the community was better than ever before," said Tara Modlin, show producer. "The standing-room-only crowd proved that the memory of September 11, 2001 will never fade."

The mission of the 911 Families Give Back Fund is to preserve and increase awareness of the significance of September 11, 2001 among the public, especially among children. While the job gets more difficult each year, it also becomes that much more important to preserve the memories of the survivors. This year's Stars, Stripes and Skates ICEtravaganza raised about $40,000 for the charity.

The children's numbers, sporadically intertwined between those of the champion skaters, were fun, exciting and very well choreographed. Perhaps the most moving part of the evening was when Rebecca Farrell, 10-year-old daughter of Hicksville's Terrence Farrell who passed away on September 11, 2001, took the ice in memory of her father.

In addition to Kerrigan, this year's celebrity participants included two-time Olympic medalist Philippe Candeloro; World Bronze medalists Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovsky; eight-time Canadian Medalists Megan Wing and Aaron Lowe; Tiffany Stiegler and Sergei Magerovsk; Nick Laroche, Jennifer Don and Johnathan Hunt; and Miss New York - Christina Ellington. The event also featured live performances by The Tokens, who performed their top-charting hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and the all-female rock group Housewives on Prozac.

To become involved in the organization or make a donation, call 212-533-0778 or email SSS@Fireworksics.com.