Forwarded on behalf of the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2022

Mike Piazza to Speak at The Sheen Center
Baseball Hall of Famer to Discuss Life On and Off the Field

New York, NY – Mike Piazza will speak at The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture on Tuesday, July 26 at 12:30 p.m., as part of The Sheen’s motivational speaker series, Faith: The Competitive Edge. The event is hosted by 1988 U.S. Olympian and motivational speaker, Leslie Maxie. Tickets are available for purchase at The Sheen Center website at www.sheencenter.org

The series kicked off this spring on May 4 with National Hockey League Hall of Famer, Pat LaFontaine. On September 28, the series will feature Lonnie Ali, wife of boxing legend Mohammed Ali, as well as Sports Illustrated photographer and filmmaker, Neil Leifer.

Inspired by the Vatican’s Sport at the Service of Humanity movement, The Sheen Center’s Faith: The Competitive Edge series offers audiences an intimate and inspiring take on the world of professional sports while exploring ideas that promote common values, inspire youth, unite competitors, and better serve humanity.

For more information about the event or to attend, please contact MaryLou Pagano, Director of Communications and Advancement for The Sheen Center at [email protected] 

ABOUT MIKE PIAZZA

Mike Piazza is a Major League Baseball Hall-of-Famer, having played most notably for the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers with whom he was named the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year. The 2016 MLB Hall of Fame inductee also played for the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres, and Oakland Athletics. Known as the best-hitting catcher of all time and having the most home runs as a catcher in MLB history, Piazza was named a 12-time All-Star, and has won 10 “Silver Slugger” awards. The New York Mets retired Piazza’s uniform number “31” in 2016; he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2013.

Piazza has an entrepreneurial background as well. Mike’s family company, Piazza Auto Group, has grown into one of the largest auto groups in the Delaware Valley, owning and operating sixteen full service dealerships throughout the Philadelphia area and its surrounding counties. Since retiring, Piazza has also become a highly sought-after motivational speaker. He has spoken and emceed for some of the largest and fastest growing companies in the country.

ABOUT LESLIE MAXIE

1988 US Olympian (Track & Field), and media professional, Leslie Maxie, began her media career as a reporter. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment and sports, including Jesse Owens, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Serena Williams, Barry Bonds, and Mike Tyson. Today, Maxie is the Principal/Founder of Maxie Media Group (MMG), a company that provides training and crisis communications to several influential clients and corporations. Maxie has built a dynamic business, designing strategic campaigns to help thought- leaders, Fortune 100 businesses, and individual influencers identify and achieve their media goals. Leslie is also a sought-after keynote speaker, host and emcee. More than being a media powerhouse, Leslie is most proud of her role as mom to Daughter Andrea (28), son Nicholas (26), and wife to attorney and award-winning photographer Phillip Dowdell. 

ABOUT THE SHEEN CENTER FOR THOUGHT AND CULTURE

The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (www.sheencenter.org), is a venue of the Archdiocese of New York’s where art and spirituality meet. Located at 18 Bleecker Street in Manhattan, The Sheen Center offers a vibrant mix of theater, film, music, art, family programming, and talk events. 

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