CABLE, FARGAS, COOP AND DOUBLE O HIGHLIGHT 2008 COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE DINNER
Justin Fargas and father Antonio (L)
This year’s 7th Annual Commitment to Excellence Dinner was the best ever! The word is out! Despite the downturn in the economy, the dinner drew the largest crowd of paid attendees to date. The dinner was infused with Raiders legends, coaches and dignitaries (check out the pix!)Jim Otto, one of the first CTE Award recipients, took the podium to a standing ovation and spoke about the history and prestige of the award. Jarrod Cooper had the packed crowd in stitches as he prepped attendees for the award presentation in a speech peppered with graphic descriptions of Raiders “secrets”. Nnamdi Asomugha accepted his award via video from China and then Justin Fargas accepted his 2nd CTE Award.
Raiders CEO Amy Trask added impromptu items to the live auction, getting the lavishly dressed crowd into a bidding frenzy. Proceeds from the event went to Asomugha’s charity, the OWIN Foundation, serving abused widows and orphans, and the Justin Fargas Foundation serving underprivileged youth.
Fargas moved many in the audience almost to tears when he announced that he would be setting up a separate foundation for the 3 year old daughter of Raiders player Marquis Cooper who was lost at sea in March of this year. Justin’s portion of the funds raised from are going to the foundation for Marquis’ daughter.
Fargas had a huge contingent of friends and family members – including his father “Huggy Bear” of Starsky and Hutch fame who came from all over the US to show their support. All stayed to strut their stuff a bit on the dance floor before the lights came up at midnight. The die hards moved to the bar of the Hilton which had already closed, but re-opened just for event attendees.
