Trent Tucker is perhaps best known for being among the first specialists of the three point shot. The marksman played eleven years in the NBA at shooting guard, nine with the New York Knicks before a stint with the San Antonio Spurs and a Championship with the 1993 Chicago Bulls. While winning a title was undoubtedly the high point in his professional career, it’s the work that Tucker has done off the court that is even more admirable.

In 1998, Tucker established “The Trent Tucker Foundation,” a nonprofit organization to provide a mentored approach to underprivileged students, giving them opportunities to succeed despite circumstances working against them. Some twelve years later, the Foundation expanded to become the “All 4 Kids Foundation,” partnering with similar programs geared to improving the lives of these children. Sunday night, All 4 Kids joined forces with The Max Cure Foundation to research and fight rare pediatric cancers for a star studded gala attended by some legendary New York City athletes past and present in an effort to improve the lives of these struggling children.

Midtown’s STK rolled out the red carpet for the event, transforming the inside of its elegant dining area to a grand ballroom of sorts, playing host to the many recognizable faces inside. Tucker’s NBA roots remain firmly in tact as the likes of iconic New York Knick players Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Herb Williams, Greg Anthony and John Starks each walked the red carpet amid a sea of flash bulbs. Current Knicks head coach Mike Woodson joined by his family and assistant coach Darrell Walker followed suit before Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott dropped in. Former New York Mets third baseman Howard Johnson and even newly re-signed Brooklyn Nets forward (and reality TV’s) Kris Humphries managed to stop by, graciously chatting with excited attendees and casually lounging in the back of the house for much of the night.

The players were engaging and approachable as the evening wore on and the setting was a surreal one for any fan of the hardwood. And while it was easy to be star struck by the number of notable names in the room, the cause was not lost on us at any point during the evening. The work being done by Tucker and company highlights almost an infallibility that so many of us take for granted. That is, until you meet a brave little boy who has managed to defeat cancer or an underprivileged student who is the first in his family to graduate from college, and you realize that these are the real all-stars.

For more information or to make a donation, check out the Trent Tucker Foundation and the Max Cure Foundation.

- Jane Van Arsdale