NEW YORK, Sept. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., a leading global financial services firm, announced today that, together with its affiliate BGC Partners, Inc., approximately $12 million was raised for charities globally at the companies' annual Charity Day on Wednesday, September 11,2013.  Each year, Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC donate 100% of their global revenues on Charity Day to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund and charities around the world. 

Established to commemorate the 658 Cantor employees lost in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks, Charity Day has since expanded to assist charitable causes worldwide, in concert with the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund.  Since its inception, Charity Day has raised approximately $101 million globally.  The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, created to assist family members of Cantor employees who perished on 9/11, has broadened its mission to provide aid to victims of terrorism, natural disaster and emergencies.

"Charity Day represents our company's fundamental commitment to helping others and helps turn the tragic anniversary of September 11 into a positive and uplifting day," said Howard W. Lutnick, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. "We feel privileged to assist so many charities around the world, in addition to supporting victims of Hurricane Sandy and the Oklahoma tornado.  I'd like to thank everyone who supports Charity Day for their enthusiasm and generosity of spirit."

Shawn P. Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., said, "To be in a position to raise millions of dollars for so many remarkable and deserving causes is incredibly rewarding.  Each year, we memorialize those we lost through this day of philanthropy.  We want to express our deepest gratitude to all of our brokers and clients, and particularly the charities and guests that made today such a success."

Cantor Fitzgerald was honored that many distinguished guests participated in Charity Day in New York, including actors Julianne Moore, Billy Crystal, Bridget Moynahan, Whoopi Goldberg and Jamie Foxx, Raymond Felton and coach Mike Woodson of the NY Knicks, former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani, magician David Blaine, Today Show co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb, Fox Television anchors Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly, track and field Olympian Bruce Jenner, sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer, tennis legend Billie Jean King and many others.

Cantor Fitzgerald would like to extend its gratitude to Cadillac, its official Charity Day 2013 Automotive Partner.

For information about charities that participated in Charity Day, please visit: http://www.cantor.com/CD/charity_day_2013.

About Cantor FitzgeraldCantor Fitzgerald, a leading global financial services firm at the forefront of financial and technological innovation has been a proven and resilient leader for over 65 years. Cantor is a preeminent capital markets investment bank serving more than 5,000 institutional clients around the world, recognized for its strengths in institutional equity and fixed income sales and trading and for its expanding presence serving the middle market with investment and banking services, prime brokerage, and commercial real estate financing. Cantor Fitzgerald also is a leader in new businesses including advisory and asset management services, gaming technology, e-commerce and other ventures. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. is one of 21 primary dealers authorized to trade U.S. government securities with The Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Cantor Fitzgerald's 1,600 employees serve clients through over 30 locations, including major financial centers around the world in the Americas, Europe, Asia/Pacific, and the Middle East. For more information please visit www.cantor.com.

Note to Editors: Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. is the parent entity of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

About the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund

Founded in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Relief Fund has raised and distributed $180 million to over 800 families and 932 children of the victims of that tragedy. The Relief Fund's expanded scope has included such natural disasters as the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami of 2004, the earthquake in Haiti and the recent events in Japan as well as the wounded members of our military. In addition, the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund supports a wide variety of other charitable organizations providing assistance to those in need.

Cantor Fitzgerald Chairman and CEO Howard Lutnick and the partners of Cantor Fitzgerald underwrite all the expenses of the fund so that 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to those in need. The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund, administered by its Co-Founder and Executive Director, Edie Lutnick has raised and distributed over $250 million. For more information, please visit: http://www.cantorrelief.org/.

Contacts:

Sheryl LeeCantor Fitzgerald(212) 610-2297shlee@cantor.com

Molly NovattCantor Fitzgerald(212) 610-3636mnovatt@cantor.com

SOURCE Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

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