Regis Philbin's family 'overwhelmed' by love after his death, asks for donations to help New Yorkers in need

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Regis Philbin's family is in awe of the love and support they've received following his death at the age of 88.

In a statement sent to Fox News on Monday, his family shared a way those in mourning can honor the beloved television personality.

“Regis's family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love we've received. If you'd like to honor Regis's memory, we kindly ask that you make a donation to http://foodbanknyc.org/, to help people in need in his beloved New York, especially his home borough of The Bronx," a family spokesperson told Fox News.

REGIS PHILBIN'S CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED

Philbin's loved ones confirmed his passing on Saturday, telling Fox News that they were "deeply saddened" but "forever grateful" for the time spent with him.

TV personality Regis Philbin attends a press conference on his departure from 'Live with Regis and Kelly' at ABC Studios on Nov. 17, 2011 in New York City.  (Bennett Raglin/WireImage)

The Chief Medical Examiner Office in Connecticut confirmed to Fox News on Monday that his cause of death was "heart disease (natural)." His family previously confirmed that he passed away from "natural causes."

Philbin was best-known for his hosting duties on "Live!" -- with co-hosts Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa -- and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

A New York native, Regis Francis Xavier Philbin was born on Aug. 25, 1931. He was named after his father's alma mater, Manhattan's Regis High School. Philbin graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx before going on to Notre Dame, where he majored in sociology.

REGIS PHILBIN OPENS UP ON HEART ISSUES, CHOLESTEROL HEALTH

After college, Philbin joined the U.S. Navy. He then embarked on his decades-long career in television as a stagehand and a delivery boy for a station in Los Angeles, Calif. Quickly after, he became a news writer and was offered a job as a sportscaster.

Regis Philbin during his hosting duties on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.' (Getty)

Philbin went on to San Diego as a news anchor for KOGO-TV. His first shot at national exposure came a few years later as the sidekick to Joey Bishop on ABC's "The Joey Bishop Show." Philbin then moved on to KHJ-TV in Los Angeles where he hosted "That Regis Philbin Show." The show was canceled due to ratings powerhouse Johnny Carson, but it brought Philbin to the midwest for "Regis Philbin's Saturday Night in St. Louis."

After three years of commuting to St. Louis each week for a local Saturday night show, Philbin became a star in local morning television -- first in Los Angeles, then in New York. In 1985, he teamed with Kathie Lee Johnson, a year before she married former football star Frank Gifford, and the show went national in 1988.

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD RECALLS LAST MEETING WITH REGIS PHILBIN BEFORE HIS DEATH: 'IT WAS SO PRECIOUS'

Celebrities routinely stopped by Philbin’s eponymous syndicated morning show, but its heart was in the first 15 minutes, when he and Gifford -- on “Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee” from 1985 to 2000 -- or Ripa -- on “Live! with Regis and Kelly” from 2001 until his 2011 retirement -- bantered about the events of the day.

He was also the host of the prime-time game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” briefly television’s most popular show at the turn of the century. ABC aired the family-friendly program as often as five times a week. It generated around $1 billion in revenue in its first two years -- ABC had said it was the more profitable show in TV history -- and helped make Philbin himself a millionaire many times over.

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Philbin is survived by his wife, Joy, and their daughters J.J. and Joanna Philbin, as well as his daughter Amy Philbin with his first wife, Catherine Faylen, People reported.