Former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine was a big hit as the guest of honor April 5 as Futures in Education and the Columbus Citizens Foundation co-hosted The Joe DiMaggio Award Dinner at The Plaza Hotel, Manhattan.

The event raised scholarship money for high school students in the Diocese of Brooklyn and New York City. Ed Randall, host of WFAN’s Talking Baseball, served as master of ceremonies.

“God has a sense of humor,” Valentine said, referring to being a long-time Yankees fan and being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and later playing for and managing the Mets.

He spoke of his family, growing up in an Italian household in Connecticut and his drive to help others. Valentine shared his love of the game and his admiration for baseball greats, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. He entertained the crowd with stories of the famed 2000 Subway Series against cross rivals.

He also was recognized for the numerous youth camps he runs to teach baseball and values to young people.

Valentine closed his award acceptance speech by thanking all of those in attendance, saying that it was a great honor to receive such a prestigious award.

The evening included a silent auction and performance by Italian-Australian recording artist Alfio Bonanno.

Futures in Education is an organization dedicated to ensuring that all current and future generations of underserved students in Brooklyn and Queens, regardless of their financial status, have access to a high quality Catholic education.

Futures in Education will direct its portion of the proceeds from the event to its Be an Angel to a Student program for high school students.

The Columbus Citizens Foundation is an organization committed to fostering an appreciation of Italian-American heritage and achievement. The Columbus Citizens Foundation will direct its portion of the proceeds to its Adopt-A-Scholar program.