A man who played a key role in ensuring the safety of his fellow passengers during the 2009 “Miracle on the Hudson” will speak during a major fundraising event today in Statesboro.
    Dave Sanderson is the featured speaker for the Seventh Annual Steak & Burger Dinner, an important fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bulloch County. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Statesboro.
    The Annual Steak & Burger Dinner is a trademark of Boys & Girls Clubs across the country. Participation gives donors the chance to support the organization’s programming directly by providing much-needed unrestricted funds. Participants also get the chance to hear how the club has influenced members’ lives and helped them succeed.
    Sanderson was returning home from a business trip in January 2009 when a bird hit the US Airways flight he was on, forcing the plane to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. In a situation in which many would think only of themselves, Sanderson was the last passenger off the plane and was largely responsible for making sure many other passengers made it out safely, even as he was standing in frigid water above his waist.
    When everyone was safe, he swam to the nearest ferry boat and was taken to a hospital. It was feared he would suffer a stroke or heart attack, but he returned to his job as a sales manager days later.
    This year’s dinner will feature something new: a musical performance by some Boys & Girls Clubs members who have been singing and taking music lessons. 
    For more information or to purchase tickets, call the club at (912) 764-9696 or visit www.bgcbulloch.org.