NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (March 22, 2026) The International Longshoremen’s Association – United States Maritime Alliance (ILA-USMX) Children’s Fund will raise funds for its main charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, at a Gala Dinner on Tuesday evening, May 12, 2026, beginning at 6 pm, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Jersey City, New Jersey. The Guest of Honor is ILA International President Harold J. Daggett who will be recognized for life-long devotion to helping St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that carries the mission of saving the lives of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. In addition to helping St. Jude, the Gala will celebrate President Daggett on the occasion of his milestone 80th Birthday on May 12, 2026.
Dennis A. Daggett, ILA Executive Vice President and Paul DeMaria, CEO and Chairman, USMX, are serving as co-chairs of this May 12th Gala.
“There is no person in our industry more deserving of this honor than ILA President Harold Daggett,” said the Dinner Co-Chairs. “President Daggett enjoys a long association with St. Jude Children’s Hospital and his fund-raising efforts on their behalf throughout his career with the ILA are legendary.
“President Daggett has matched a remarkable career as an ILA leader leading his 85,000 members, with his extensive charitable work for organizations like St. Jude, Toys for Tots and the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.,” they added. “What better way to recognize this industry giant than to present him with this St. Jude honor on his 80th Birthday!”
For the past three years, the ILA-USMX Children’s Fund has earmarked proceeds from their annual Golf Tournament Charity to St. Jude, which opened its hospital doors in Memphis, Tennessee in 1962 and has helped push the survival rate for children with cancer from 20 percent to more than 80 percent in 2026. Families of children with cancer never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food to allow them to focus on helping their child live. St. Jude cares for some of the sickest children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs or ability to pay. Their patients receive the customized care to treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, no matter what barriers they may face.
Since the industry leaders created the ILA-USMX Children’s Fund in 1992, they have raised over $20 million for charities mainly concentrating on helping children suffering from cancer or other serious illnesses.
Invitations for the May 12 Gala, honoring ILA President Harold Daggett, have been distributed and Co-Chairs Dennis Daggett and Paul DeMaria are anticipating a successful event, that raises funds for St. Jude and honors a special leader on the occasion of his 80th Birthday.
The dinner committee includes John Daggett, Lisa Daggett, Anissa Frucci, Mary Jaeger, Stephen Knott, Vincent Marino, James A. McNamara, John Nardi, Joseph Perez, Joseph Ragusa, Alan Robb, Joseph Sanzari, Michael Vigneron, Justin Wier and Jason Winter.
A special journal will be printed for the event with advertising opportunities available.
For information about ticket reservations and journal ads, please contact Sabrina Del Grosso at ILA (212-425-1200, ext. 309) or [email protected].