Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation Dinner Thursday

Derek Jeter will be the master of ceremonies at his 16th annual Turn 2 Foundation Dinner Thursday night at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in Manhattan.

The Turn 2 Foundation, established in 1996, has awarded more than $16 million in grants to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to “Turn 2” healthy lifestyles. Through these ventures, the foundation strives to create outlets for children to achieve academic excellence, develop leadership skills and remain drug and alcohol free.

Thursday night’s program will include the recognition of two Turn 2 Award recipients – Dennis Walcott, chancellor for the New York City public schools, and Simona Vareikaite, a graduate of the Jeter’s Leaders Program, Turn 2’s premier leadership development program.

Also to be celebrated will be 11 high school graduates from the Jeter’s Leaders Program for their academic achievement. The students come from New York City and Jeter’s original hometown of Kalamazoo, Mich.

The event will also feature a performance by the popular rhythm & blues group Boys II Men as well as silent and live auctions.

Many of the captain’s teammates and other celebrity guests will join the Turn 2 Foundation sponsors at the dinner. Previous celebrity guests among current and former Yankees have included CC Sabathia, Tino Martinez, Dave Winfield, Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher as well as Eli Manning, Dominique Dawes, Harry Carson, John Starks, Spike Lee, Billy Crystal, Angela Bassett and Leeann Tweeden.