# A $1.5M night for 9/11's heroes at Cipriani

> Twenty-five years on, New York's old guard packed Cipriani 42nd Street to honor the fallen and raise $1.5 million.
- Title: A $1.5M night for 9/11's heroes at Cipriani · Page Six
- Summary: Twenty-five years on, New York's old guard packed Cipriani 42nd Street to honor the fallen and raise $1.5 million. The gala raised $1.5 million for the…
- Keywords: 9/11, new york, charity, gala, pataki, news, entertainment, night, 11's, heroes, Cipriani, Page Six
- Source: Page Six — https://pagesix.com/2026/09/12/society/john-catsimatidis-marks-25th-anniversary-of-9-11-with-starry-gala-concert-raises-1-5-million
- Published: 2026-09-12T18:27:47+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: 9/11, new york, charity, gala, pataki, news, entertainment
## A gala for the fallen
John and Margo Catsimatidis hosted the WABC Radio and George Pataki Leadership Center concert at Cipriani 42nd Street on Friday, marking 25 years since 9/11.

> It was an evening to honor America's heroes.
## Three honorees, one room
The night honored former Gov. George Pataki, Cardinal Timothy Dolan and New York Post columnist Cindy Adams alongside the memory of those lost.
## Cindy Adams opens racy
Told she had only two minutes to speak, Adams quipped that the last time she heard that line was on her wedding night, then turned to Dolan: "You didn't hear that, did you?"

> You didn't hear that, did you?
## Dolan reads Psalm 46
The Cardinal opened with a prayer and a blessing for the city and the country, closing with "Amen! Hallelujah! Thank you."

> God bless this city and God bless America.
## Pataki: like yesterday
The former governor told Page Six that 25 years feels distant on paper but not in memory, and that the courage of the responders has to be honored.

> And as distant as 25 years seems, it's like yesterday.
## Sinatra, cake and $1.5M
Cousin Brucie emceed, Lee Greenwood and Tony Orlando sang, and Joe Piscopo led "New York, New York" before Catsimatidis blew out candles for his 78th. The night brought in $1.5 million.

> everybody has to remember that we're never gonna forget 9/11
## Key takeaway

The gala raised $1.5 million for the George Pataki Leadership Center, the NYPD Police Athletic League, Tunnel to Towers and the WABC Foundation.