Bob Ley, Robin Roberts to Headline Benefit in Fairfield

If you’re looking for something to do next weekend, you might want to head over to on Friday for a chance to meet “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts and ESPN’s Bob Ley. 

The two television personalities are headlining the event “Behind the Scenes: an Inside Look into the World of Broadcast Journalism” on April 13. Ley and Roberts will take the stage at 8 p.m. to share stories and answers audience members’ questions.

All proceeds from the event will support FSW Inc., a non-profit social service agency in Bridgeport that services more than 11,000 people a year. FSW’s programs and services are aimed at eliminating the root causes of poverty and giving clients the tools not to simply survive, but thrive, according to FSW’s Director of Development Jocelyn Ault.

Bob Ley, who serves on FSW’s Board of Directors and the benefit’s committee, agreed. “FSW can address the different needs from different clients,” he told Patch. The agency sees clients with varying problems, from financial instability to youth at risk to people infected with HIV.

“They can be helped a number of different ways just by entering one door,” he said. “There are professionals and programs in place to refer clients across the board.”

Ley, who was one of ESPN’s original “SportsCenter” anchors and now hosts “Outside the Lines,” became involved with FSW through close friend Larry Ganim, an FSW board member. Through Ganim, Ley helped work on FSW’s “Ultimate Gift” fund, the ultimate gift being “independence in their lives,” Ley said of the fund’s beneficiaries.

Working with Ganim and FSW became “a good fit,” Ley said.  He was “absolutely thrilled” when he was invited to join the board, a position he’s held for three years.

Roberts became part of this year’s benefit after sitting down to lunch with Ley and former “SportsCenter” anchor Josh Elliot, now news anchor for “Good Morning America.” Ley was discussing the upcoming event and Roberts said, “Why didn’t you ask me?”

And so the two will headline the event.

“I’m excited to work with Robin. I can’t thank her enough for extending herself for the evening,” Ley said. “The demands on her time are unfathomable.”

Prior to the main event, Roberts and Ley will host a meet-and-greet cocktail reception. Attendees can bid for silent auction items during the cocktail hour. Auction items include a tour of ESPN studios given by Ley, premier Subway Series tickets, golf outings, vacations, and more.

“It’s going to be a fun evening for a great cause,” Ley said. “Folks can go home knowing they helped the clients of FSW.”

[Editor’s Note: FSW would like to give a special thanks to PSEG Power CT, the title sponsor of the event.

Tickets for the April 13 benefit can be purchased online on FSW’s website. General admission to the stage event is $50. Premium admission, which includes the meet-and-greet cocktail reception with Roberts and Ley as well as preferred seating, is $100. The cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m., the main event at 8 p.m.]