On Sunday, Sept. 10, former New York Knicks basketball star John Starks hosted the 5th Annual John Starks Celebrity Benefit Reception and Auction at the Roslyn Claremont Hotel.

The event attracted numerous celebrities from the sports and entertainment industries as well as many local supporters. Among the famous were: Herb Williams, former NBA player; Eric Strickland, of the New York Knicks; Maurice Dubois, NBC anchor; Matthew Lawrence of Beverly Hills 90210; Dell Curry, Toronto Raptors and Mike "Scooter" McGruder, former San Francisco 49ers football star.

The John Starks Foundation was established in 1994 to provide financial assistance to non-profit youth organizations and funding for academic scholarships to underprivileged youth in Starks' native Tulsa, Oklahoma. A portion of the proceeds went to the Children's Medical Fund of New York.