New York Giants quarterback Kerry Collins announced today the establishment of his KC For Kids fund. In his crusade to help sick and disabled children, Collins will donate $1,000 for every regular and post-season touchdown he throws and $2,000 per Giants victory for the 2000 season. Proceeds from the fund will benefit the pediatric patients of the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in New York City.

In addition, during his weekly radio show on WFAN, hosts Jody McDonald and Suzyn Waldman challenged Collins to donate an additional $2,000 for rushing touchdowns.

Collins is also encouraging individuals and corporations to participate. Any person who contributes over $500 total will be invited to attend a KC For Kids post-season party with Collins at the Park Avenue Country Club in New York City. In conjunction, any corporation that contributes over $20,000 total will receive a personal office visit from Collins.

Following his visit to the Center this summer, Collins dedicated himself to assisting the Rusk Institute in their reconstruction efforts. The goal of the KC For Kids fund is to raise at least $100,000 to build a state-of-the-art computer center on the pediatric wing of the Rusk Institute, complete with specialized equipment that will help disabled children access the internet and other computer learning aids.

“Al Leiter of the New York Mets called and told me about the great things that were happening at the Rusk Institute,” said Collins. “Two days before training camp, I visited the Pediatric Wing of the Rehabilitation Center. It was very moving to see the inner strength of the children and I knew right then I wanted to help.”

An integral component of NYU Medical Center (now Mount Sinai NYU Health), the Rusk Institute, established in 1948 by Howard A. Rusk M.D., is the largest university-based treatment center for adults and children with disabilities, as well as for research and training in rehabilitation medicine.

This year, U.S. News & World Report rated the Rusk Institute the #1 rehabilitation center in New York City for the eleventh consecutive year. Plans are underway to create a new Rusk Institute, as they are in urgent need of new facilities.

For more information on the KC For Kids fund, contact Jamey Crimmins at (908) 668-8635 or log on to the Kerry Collins Foundation website.