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Baseball legend Daniel J. “Rusty” Staub was one of the founders of the organization.

"This organization is all about trying to never forget the loss that takes place when a police officer or fireman or Port Authority or EMS person is killed in the line of duty, giving their life up to make this city a safer place to be in,” said Staub. “The whole purpose is not just the money we give them, but the fact that they know we're not forgetting what their loss was, and that means as much to them as the money."

Jay-Z, who raised $800,000 for the organization earlier in the year, and Citigroup chief executive officer Vikram Pandit, were both honored.

“There is not a worthier cause than this,” said Pandit. “It was so heartwarming to see the children, so many of them so young, and how there are actually a few of them who never saw their fathers because of what happened on 9/11."

The evening also included an auction, hosted by NY1 Society reporter George Whipple.

For Mark Messier, the former hockey star, the benefit was an emotional event.

"As a parent myself, and seeing the widows here tonight, you could feel their grief and put yourself in that situation,” said Messier, a member of the fund’s board of directors. “You could never understand the pain that they must feel and the things that they have endured. Financially [the fund has] come to their aid, but probably, more importantly, emotionally they've come to their aid, as well."

The dinner raised $1.5 million.