AMM Spotlight: Athlete, Musician, Philanthropist; Bernie Williams

Puerto Rican musician and baseball player, Bernie Williams was a member of four World Series championship teams with the Yankees and holds numerous sporting records. Williams is also a classically trained guitarist. Following his absence from baseball, he has released two jazz albums. He was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2009. He has created the Hillside Food Charity in Hollywood, which is dedicated to fighting hunger in the Westchester and Putnam counties. Bernie hosts numerous charity concerts and other events such as Little League games for the charity.

He also regularly takes part in charity events for other charities, strutting his stuff on the catwalk at the ‘Dressed to Kilt’ charity fashion show, and performing on the charity show Dancing with the Stars. In 2009, Bernie was honored with the ‘Big Man of the Year’ award by Little Kids Rock, given each year to an individual who helps Little Kids Rock put transformational music classes and modern musical instruments into the hands of low-income school children. On recieving the award, Bernie told the audience “I believe that no kid, and I mean NO kid, shouldn’t have the opportunity to play an instrument and learn it. It enriches their lives.”