At the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, our mission is to support victims of terrorism, emergencies and natural disasters.We provide direct financial assistance to hundreds of charities around the world, and we are proud to help raise awareness to small charities that have the potential to make big impacts. 100% of every dollar raised by the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund goes to victims of terrorism, natural disasters and emergencies, direct service charities, and wounded members of our military.
On September 14, 2001, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund was formed with an initial donation of $1 million from Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Partners Chairman and CEO, Howard Lutnick. Mr. Lutnick and the firms’ partners underwrote 100 percent of the expenses of the Relief Fund so that every penny of its income was paid out to those in need. In addition to the families of Cantor’s employees who were lost on 9/11, the Relief Fund also assisted family members of World Trade Center victims from 14 other companies. The Relief Fund raised and distributed over $180 million to over 800 families and 932 children of the victims of this tragedy.
Since 9/11, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund expanded its scope to not only include victims of terrorism, but to also assist victims of natural disasters and emergencies, including victims of Superstorm Sandy, the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast, the tsunami of 2004 and the Haiti earthquake. The Relief Fund also works to assist wounded members of the U.S. military. Since its inception, the Relief Fund has distributed over $280 million.
Every year, Cantor Fitzgerald and our affiliate, BGC Partners, in conjunction with the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, commemorate our 658 friends and colleagues and 61 Eurobrokers employees who perished on September 11, 2001 by distributing 100% of our global revenues on Charity Day to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and dozens of charities around the world. Since its inception, Charity Day has raised approximately $113 million globally. Each anniversary is a poignant occasion for us. Charity Day is our way of turning a tragic day into one that is positive and uplifting by helping others.
This year’s Charity Day was held on Thursday, September 11, 2014. We raised approximately $12 million, and donated 100% of our global revenue to over 40 charities worldwide.
Many distinguished guests lent their support by joining us on the day. We were proud to welcome actors Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Stiller, Michelle Williams, Ed Burns, Steve Buscemi, Michael J. Fox, Idina Menzel, Rooney Mara, Gina Gershon, and Kevin Kline. Notable musicians included Jon Bon Jovi, Nick Jonas and Curtis “50” Cent. Leading athletes included New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony, Iman Shumpert and Tim Hardaway Jr., New York Nets point guard Deron Williams, New York Rangers Henrik Lundqvist and Martin St. Louis, New York Mets Matt Harvey and Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees Carlos Beltran, Mark Teixeira and CC Sabathia, New York sports icons Mark Messier and Mariano Rivera, and Olympic gold medalist winners Bode Miller and Mikaela Schiffrin. Top models included Karolina Kurk