Red Sox Charities

Contents 1 Latest News 2 Active Causes 3 News Archive 4 Charities of Past Players & Personnel

Latest News

September 6, 2010

This year's Sean McDonough Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic will be held September 19 & 20 at The Oaks course at The International in Bolton, MA. Those scheduled to attend include Dwight Evans, Bob Cousy, Dick McPherson; ESPN broadcasters John Anderson, Erin Andrews, Mike Breen, John Buccigross, Bill Raftery and Lesley Visser; NCAA coaches Jim Boeheim and Tim Welsh; retired coach Billy Packer, and restaurateur/chef Ming Tsai. Contact the foundation for more information on the event.

June 10, 2010

Jason Varitek's Celebrity Putt Putt - The fourth annual Putt Putt is set for Thursday, July 1, 2010 at a brand new location: The Tsongas Center at UMass-Lowell. The 18-hole mini-golf event will benefit the Celebrities For Charity Foundation and Journey Forward, which provides support and treatment for those with spinal cord injuries. The event was held in 2007 and 2008 at Medford's Flynn Rink and in 2009 at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton. Previous beneficiaries have included Boston Children's Hospital and Saints Medical Center in Lowell.

May 31, 2010

Welcome Back Veterans - Major League Baseball debuted special-edition patriotic-themed uniforms and licensed apparel for all 30 MLB clubs to be worn on Memorial Day, July 4 and September 11 in honor of those who have served America's armed forces. The line includes tri-color caps, shirts and jerseys with team logos fashioned in a stars & stripes motif. MLB is donating $1 from the sale of each cap to the WBV Fund, an initiative launched by Major League Baseball and the McCormick Foundation to raise public awareness about issues facing today's veterans, and to raise funds to support programs and services that these returning soldiers need to repair and restore their lives.

May 20, 2010

Red Sox Mentoring Challenge - Tonight marks the launch of the 6th annual mentoring challenge. The Red Sox have again teamed up with ex-Celtics great Bill Russell and the Mass Mentoring Partnership with the goal of recruiting mentors for 3,000 Massachusetts children, teens and young adults in need of guidance and leadership. Red Sox manager Tery Francona and pitching coach John Farrell, along with Minnesota Twins all-star catcher Joe Mauer, spoke at a fundraising breakfast this morning that raised more than $200,000 for the cause. More information is available at the Red Sox web site and at massmentors.org, or by calling (617) 695-1200.

The Home For Little Wanderers will hold its signature fundraising event, Voices & Visions 2010, on May 26 at Seaport World Trade Center in Boston. This unique gala is the culmination of a year-long arts project throughout The Home's many programs and features artwork by some of its youngest children. Originally founded as a orphanage in 1799, The Home today plays a leading role in delivering services to thousands of children and families each year through residential, community-based and prevention programs, direct care services, and advocacy. The theme of this year's event is "Outer Space and Beyond." Along with the exhibited artwork, the evening will include a cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, and awards program. A highlight of the night will be the honoring of NESN Red Sox analyst and Baseball Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley for his long-time support and commitment to the work of the home. Tickets are $500 and may be purchased by calling Jamille Benson at (617) 927-0682.

Pitching In For Kids Poker Benefit - For the second year Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield are teaming up to host this event, held May 31 from 6 to 10 pm at Ned Devine's in the upper rotunda at Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston. Card sharks have a chance to play Texas Hold 'em with Tek and Wake along with other local celebrities and sports figures. The fundraiser is highlighted by a live & silent auction; music & dancing; a wall-to-wall buffet and a cocktail reception. A photo gallery of last year's event, held at the Capitol Grille, can be found here. Proceeds benefit the Pitching In For Kids foundation, which provides services and funds for hospitalized children and their families throughout New England. The entry fee, good for all events and a poker table seat, is $250. Tickets for the party only are $100. Space is limited so click here to reserve your spots.

2010 Beckett Bowl - The 4th edition of this great event will be held July 29 at Lucky Strike Lanes on Ipswich Street near Fenway Park. An after-party, headlined by country music star Jason Aldean, will be around the corner at the House of Blues on Lansdowne Street. Proceeds will once again benefit Children's Hospital in Boston through the Josh Beckett Foundation. Tickets will go on sale shortly.

May 13, 2010

Run to Home Base - The Red Sox will host this interctive military benefit at Fenway Park on Sunday, May 23 beginning at 8 AM. It's a 9K fundraising run through Boston and Cambridge starting at the ballpark, then across the Longfellow bridge and along the banks of the Charles before retracing the route and returning to Fenway. It ends with the once-in-a-lifetime experience of crossing "home base" (plate) at historic Fenway Park. Friends and family can watch you from the stands at Fenway. Food, entertainment and fun family activities will be provided in the concourses of America’s Most Beloved Ballpark. The Run to Home Base will honor heroic veterans and help raise much needed funds for the new Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program. Donations will provide clinical care, innovative research, education, family support and community outreach to the many veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injuries.

May 7, 2010

Longball Cellars - Since 2007 Red Sox players have launched signature wine varietals to raise money for their favorite charities. This year it's Jacoby Ellsbury's ZinfandEllsbury and Josh Beckett's Chardon-K. In 2007, Curt Schilling's Schardonnay, Tim Wakefield's CaberKnuckle and Manny Ramirez's Manny Being Merlot were the debut vintages. They were followed by Kevin Youkilis's SauvignYoouuk, Jason Varitek's Captain's Cabernet and David Ortiz's Vintage Papi in 2008. Proceeds from sales of Josh's wine will benefit the Josh Beckett Foundation, while sales of Jacoby's vintage will benefit three causes: The Navajo Relief Fund, which brings hope to inhabitants of Navajo Nation by building on their strong sense of pride and community; Project Bread, dedicated to alleviating, preventing, and ending hunger in the state of Massachusetts; and the Ellsbury-Read Project, based at Mountain View Hospital in his hometown of Madras, Oregon, which helps promote awareness and prevention of child abuse. Check out video of the launch party here.

Andrew Graff started Charity Wines, a philanthropic division of his Winchendon, Massachusetts-based company, VinLozano Imports Inc., after personal tragedies involving friends and family with cancer and heart disease. With the goal of pairing fine wine with great charities, the Longball Cellars brand was born. Nationwide, more than 30 professional athletes across baseball, football and hockey have teamed up with Charity Wines to raise funds for great causes.

Once again the cooperative effort between Sox players and Charity Wines was marshaled by Mike Lembo and Brett Rudy of Charity Hop, a non-profit that organizes sports-related charity functions nationwide and primarily in the Boston area. Other Sox-related events fronted with the help of Charity Hop have included the 100 Innings of Baseball Spectacular to benefit Curt's Pitch for ALS, and the Jim Rice Road to the Hall. Mike and Brett have also donated several bottles of Red Sox vintages to Sons of Sam Horn charity auctions.

April 28, 2010

Hit For Hunger - Sox players Josh Beckett, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon, David Ortiz and Mike Lowell have launched a line of t-shirts to raise money toward the Labels Are For Jars program, which helps feed needy residents of Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of the poorest cities in the country. The Cor Unum Meal Center arose from members of St. Patrick Parish in South Lawrence, who in 2001 responded to the growing needs of the hungry in their city. After five years of research, planning and construction, the center was completed in 2006. It provides hundreds of free, nutritious meals 365 days a year in a safe environment to the working poor, families with children, the homeless, and the lonely – anyone who is in need of food, regardless of race, color, creed, sex, or way of life. Cor Unum has a small core staff and relies upon a wide volunteer base for the provision of all of its services. A brief video launching the t-shirt drive can be seen here.

Active Causes

The Jimmy Fund - Since its founding in 1948, the Jimmy Fund has supported the fight against cancer in children and adults at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Originally a favored charity of the Boston Braves, Red Sox owners Thomas and Jean Yawkey made the Jimmy Fund the official charity of their team after the Braves moved to Milwaukee in 1953. Here's a great article from 2002 on the Sox' involvement written by MLB.com's Ian Browne, and a thorough history of the team's connection can be found on the fund's site.

Red Sox Foundation - Established by the current Red Sox ownership group, it has been the primary funding source for the club’s philanthropy in several areas including The Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox Scholars, Community Athletic Programs and social service programs.

The Foundation To Be Named Later - Launched in Spring 2005 by Paul Epstein, a social worker in the Brookline Public School system, and his brother, Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein, with the mission of raising funds and awareness for non-profit agencies in the Greater Boston area serving disadvantaged youth. The principal beneficiaries of FTBNL are: BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life), The Home for Little Wanderers, Horizons for Homeless Children, Molo Care, Roxbury Youthworks, Steps to Success, Treehouse Foundation and West End House Boys and Girls Club. The FTBNL is a branch of the Red Sox Foundation.

Hot Stove, Cool Music - Founded by baseball writers Peter Gammons and Jeff Horrigan, the event combining music with baseball has raised thousands for the Jimmy Fund and The Foundation To Be Named Later.

The Josh Beckett Foundation - The Sox' ace hurler founded this charity in 2007 to assist children in New England and his hometown of Spring, Texas, who are seriously ill, disabled, poor or otherwise disadvantaged. The first major fundraiser, the Beckett Bowl, was held September 13, 2007 at Town Line Ten-Pin in Malden. Proceeds from the celebrity bowling tournament benefit Children's Hospital in Boston. MLB.com's Alex McPhillips wrote a great rundown of the event, which attracted dozens of Boston-area athletes and celebrities. Josh hopes the event will continue the tradition established by former Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, who for five years hosted the Nomar Bowl at the same Malden venue and raised over $1 million for local charities. Sox pitcher Manny Delcarmen has also hosted benefit bowling events, and while pitching for Los Angeles former Sox reliever Eric Gagne held the Eric Gagne Bowling Extravaganza to benefit the Dodger Dream Foundation.

Kevin Youkilis Hits For Kids - Kevin started this foundation in September 2007 along with his girlfriend Enza Sambataro to support other charities that help children in need. Among the causes Kevin and Enza will raise awareness of are The Italian Home for Children in Jamaica Plain, and Joslin Pediatric Health Services, which works to fight juvenile diabetes, a disease that afflicted Kevin's uncle. The first major fundraising event, Crackin' It Up, was held November 10, 2007 at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. In 2006, Kevin started the "Lil' Youks" ticket program, inviting patients from The Home for Little Wanderers and the Massachusetts General Hospital Teen Oncology Support Group. He has also helped raise funds for Locks of Love and Canine Companions for Independence.

Jason Varitek's Celebrity Putt Putt - The third annual Putt Putt was held on June 9, 2008 at 7 pm at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton to benefit Saints Medical Center in Lowell and the Celebrities For Charity Foundation. Held for the past two years in Medford's Flynn Rink, the event raises money for various local charities. Previous beneficiaries included Boston Children's Hospital.

David Ortiz Children's Fund - Big Papi's charity is dedicated to enabling children in the Dominican Republic and New England to have access to critical pediatric care required to live full, productive lives. Funds are raised through personal donations, public donations, corporate partnerships, proceeds from sales of his En Fuego Hot Sauces and Marinades, and fund-raising events such as his Celebrity Golf Classic held every December. Beneficiaries include Mass General Hospital, Heartcare Dominicana, and International Hospital for Children. In 2008, David was awarded UNICEF’s Children’s Champion Award.

Tim Wakefield Celebrity Golf Classic - This annual winter event hosted by Tim and his wife Stacy benefits the Space Coast Early Intervention Center in Tim's hometown of Melbourne, Florida. The SCEIC is a pre-school and therapeutic center for families and children with Down syndrome, William's syndrome, Rhett's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, P-4 Deletion syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Delays, and Apert Syndrome as well as children with visual, speech and hearing delays. The 2007 event was held January 26-27, 2007.

Manny Delcarmen's Bowlin' Strikes For Schools - First held in January 2005, this event has been a means for "Manny D" to give back to the city's youth. Manny now holds two bowling fundraisers annually: the November ten-pin Bowlin' Strikes for Schools at King's Lanes near Fenway Park, and the Manny Delcarmen Candlepin Challenge at Ron's Gourmet Ice Cream in his hometown of Hyde Park in January. In its first five years, more than $60,000 has been raised for the Boston Educational Fund benefiting Boston Public Schools.

Pitching In For Kids - Founded in 2004 by Boston business leaders Carol Troxell and Sara Youngelson, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to providing specifically earmarked grants designed to improve the lives of children across the New England region. Grant funds are raised through many sports-related events, including the annual All Star Celebrity Golf Tournament hosted by Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek that benefits the Franciscan Hospital for Children.

American Red Cross - Since 2002, the Sox have held an annual blood drive at Fenway Park on September 11. In 2003, the Sox began honoring a blood donor before each home game, with the exception of opening day. Sox players such as Trot Nixon have donated their time and effort to support the event.

Red Sox Mentoring Challenge - The Sox have teamed up with ex-Celtics great Bill Russell to help out the Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership. The organization has identified more than 10,000 children in the state in need of adult guidance and support and is looking for volunteers to step up to the plate. A special brunch is held at Fenway each November to recognize mentors recruited through the challenge.

The Lester Project - Following the news on 9/1/06 that rookie pitcher Jon Lester had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a group of steudents/Sox fans from Boston College, Northeastern University, Emmanuel College and Fisher College launched this fundraising effort. They've created silicone awareness bracelets similar to those spawned by Lance Armstrong's "LiveStrong" campaign, and all net proceeds will go to the Jimmy Fund in Jon's name.

Mike Lowell Foundation - It wasn't long after he was traded from the Yankees to the Florida Marlins in 1999 that Mike Lowell was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He underwent radiation treatments and eventually returned to the game. To increase the visibility of the fight against cancer, Mike started the foundation to enhance the resources available to cancer patients and their families. While with the Marlins, the foundation promoted numerous events including Mike's Hit it Big Weekend, held each December and featuring The Grand Slam Casino and Mike Lowell's Celebrity Golf Classic.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston - MLB launched a new campaign in 2006 to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of these organizations, which have been MLB's official charity since 1997. David Ortiz has been front and center, hosting a celebrity mixer bartending event and Big Papi's Power Hitting Clinic for Kids. David also starred in a promo spot for the charities (click to view} along with 10 Boston-area kids at Fenway. Read more about the filming here. Papi also put his 50th HR ball up for auction with proceeds to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and Plaza de la Salud Hospital de Niños in his native Santo Domingo, D.R.

Massachusetts Teachers Association - The team has expanded its partnership with the MTA in 2007 to establish the Most Valuable Educator program, which gives high school students the chance to write essays nominating teachers and other educators for recognition. The essays are judged by Red Sox representatives on the merit of their accomplishments, as outlined by the students. The winning educators and the students who nominate them receive tickets to games at Fenway Park.

Reading Matters - Another Sox-MTA collaboration is the Red Sox Reading Game, which encourages students in kindergarten through 8th grade to read nine books over the summer - one for each position on the baseball field. The Red Sox are entering their seventh straight year with the program in 2007, and participating students will again be entered into a drawing to attend a game at Fenway in late summer. Sox captain Jason Varitek serves as spokesman for the program; his public service video can be seen here, and he also appears in a poster campaign (click here to download a PDF).

Good Sports - To lay the foundation for healthy, active lifestyles among disadvantaged youth in Boston, this charity partners with sporting goods manufacturers to distribute sports equipment, footwear, and apparel to community organizations serving over 50,000 youngsters. More than three-quarters are minority youth between the ages of 8 and 16. Members of the Good Sports board of advisors include Red Sox VP of Player Personnel Ben Cherington, his wife and Boston TV sports anchor Wendy Nix, and NESN Red Sox studio host Tom Caron.

Canine Companions for Independence - This non-profit raises money to place service dogs that aid the disabled with various tasks such as retrieving items and opening doors. It also provides training for the dogs and their owners. For the past several years CCI has sold "Pups In The Park" calendars with photos of players posing with the companion pups and some of their owners. The calendars, which run from April to March, include the Sox' schedule. Volunteers Pat Canavan and Judy Tucker have sold them outside Fenway Park, raising about $60,000 in each of the last three years. For information on purchasing a 2007 calendar, contact the Northeast chapter of CCI at 800-572-BARK or email Judy Tucker.

Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities - Established in 1989 for boys in South Central Los Angeles, this Major League Baseball program now serves more than 120,000 teenagers in over 200 cities worldwide. RBI is the brainchild of John Young, a former major league player and scout and a South Central L.A. native. By coupling a renewed interest in baseball with individual achievement in schools and communities, the program has successfully routed hundreds of thousands of youths from the ills of gangs, drugs and violence. Sox outfielder Coco Crisp is among the current major leaguers who benefited from the RBI program. Former Sox slugger Jim Rice has donated countless hours to the cause. In recognition of his efforts, Jim Rice Field in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood was dedicated in his honor in 1999. About $700,000 in funds were raised at the 1999 Home Run Derby, part of the 1999 MLB All-Star Game festivities at Fenway Park. That money went toward construction costs of the field, located at David L. Ramsay Park between Washington Street and Shawmut Avenue.

News Archive

April 17, 2008

Ortiz Jersey Raises $175,100 for Jimmy Fund - The jersey secretly buried in the concrete foundation of new Yankee Stadium by a Red Sox fan working on the construction crew sold at auction on eBay. Kevin Meehan of Mendon, Mass., president of imperialcars.com was the winning bidder in the auction, which ended April 24. The jersey attracted bids from 19 states. The New York Yankees dug up the jersey from underneath two feet of concrete April 12 after a tipster alerted the media to the prank. Yankees President Randy Levine arranged to donate the jersey to the Red Sox to benefit their official charity. Ryan Reardon (left) of Groveland, Mass., an 8-year-old cancer patient at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helped unveil the jersey prior to auction. It was kept on display at The Sports Museum at TD Garden. "The Red Sox and Yankees are huge rivals on the field, but one thing they always do is unite in the fight against cancer," said Jimmy Fund chairman Mike Andrews. "This is my 30th year with the Jimmy Fund, and there is no question this is the most unique fundraising opportunity we've had during that time."

Charities of Past Players & Personnel

The Yawkey Foundations - Tom and Jean Yawkey's commitment to philanthropy extended to many organizations throughout New England and Georgetown County, South Carolina. They were particularly interested in supporting causes that encouraged educational opportunities, improved health care, enhanced human service programs, provided youth and amateur athletic opportunities, celebrated arts and cultural endeavors, and valued conservation efforts. The 2002 sale of the red Sox provided the foundations' trustees with significant resources to honor the Yawkeys' commitment to those in need. Since 2002, the foundations have awarded $230 million to a broad range of organizations benefiting children, families, and the underserved.

Curt's Pitch for ALS - Founded by Curt Schilling and his wife, Shonda, Curt's Pitch for ALS is a program aimed at raising awareness and funds for the fight against ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

The Shade Foundation - Founded by Curt and Shonda Schilling, its mission is to eradicate melanoma through the education of children and the community in the prevention and detection of skin cancer and the promotion of sun safety.

The Angel Fund - Mike Timlin has actively supported this non-profit organization dedicated to supporting ALS investigations at the Cecil B. Day Laboratory for Neuromuscular Research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Mike and his wife, Dawn, hold several events annually including the Sharon Timlin Memorial 5k Run, named for Mike's mother who died in 2002 from complications of ALS.

Gabe Kapler Foundation - Founded by Gabe and Lisa Kapler, the non-profit foundation is dedicated to stopping domestic violence. The goal is to empower victims of abuse to stop the violence perpetuated against them by giving them the tools to live self-sufficient, violence-free lives. The foundation also focuses on preventing those children living in abusive environments from becoming lifelong victims or from becoming future abusers.

The Jordan Fund - Founded in 2003 by former Sox player John Olerud and his wife Kelly to support special needs children and their families. It is named for their daughter Jordan, who was born in 2000 with a chromosome disorder.

Nomar 5 Fund - When he established his charity in 1999, Nomar Garciaparra sought to support community-based organizations that instilled the importance of family, education, sportsmanship, citizenship and teamwork, the values to which he attributes much of his success. His numerous events included the annual Nomar Bowl. Among the programs fostered through the fund were Adopt-A-Classroom, which provided essential school supplies for Boston students and teachers. Another was the Placement Package Project, providing essential items such as infant formula, clothing, toiletries, diapers, and toys to make children's transition to foster care as comfortable as possible. A $200,000 donation from the fund spawned Nomar's Play Lot at the Vine Street Community Center in Dudley Square, designed for children aged 3 to 10 and will be used by young people from Vine Street's child care center, youth programs and summer camp. In conjunction with ReadBoston, he created Nomar's Reading Diamonds, which for a different school each year provided books, bookshelves and other accessories for a special reading section in the library designed to replicate a baseball field. The endless list of causes benefiting from Nomar's work included Boston Centers for Youth and Family, Safe Neighborhood Youth Fund, The City of Boston Summer Jobs Program, the Massachusetts Department of Social Services (DSS) Kids' Fund, The Home for Little Wanderers, Children's Aids Programs House (CAP House), the Boston Housing Authority; The United Way, The Salvation Army, the Massachusetts Sports Partnership, and The New England Sports Museum.

Pedro Martinez Foundation - The future Hall of Famer's charitable mission was to support causes favoring children, health care, and education in Boston, New England and the Dominican Republic. Beneficiaries have included the New England Karate-Do Association, YouthBuild Providence, Hope & Heroes Children's Cancer Fund at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and the Juan Guzman Foundation, which supports children's programs in the Dominican. Pedro has also established a scholarship fund at Louisiana State University for Dominican students. For several years, Pedro donated a portion of proceeds from sales of his Black Bean & Corn Salsa.

Luis Tiant Foundation - El Tiante has assisted a number of charities through his fundraising efforts, most notably the Luis Tiant Swing for Diabetes held annually since 2005 at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy, MA. Luis was diagnosed as a Type 2 diabetic in 2002. The event has raised over $1 million for the American Diabetes Association. Luis has also partnered with Sunridge International to bring its revolutionary non-invasive eye care technology to the people of his native Cuba, where advanced medical care lags behind many developed nations. Pneumatic Trabeculoplasty (PNT) is a cost effective alternative treatment for glaucoma that takes two minutes and requires no surgery. Luis' foundation can also be found on Facebook

Wounded Warrior Project - This charity raises awareness and public support for the needs of severely injured service men and women, and provides unique programs and services to meet the needs of these heroes. On January 27, 2008, former Red Sox outfielder Johnny Damon was honored by the New York Baseball Writers Association for his work with the organization, as reported by Globe reporter Gordon Edes:

Mets GM Omar Minaya and a veteran who had lost an arm in Iraq when his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade jointly presented the award to Damon, who was visibly moved by the soldier's remarks. "Wow," he said, fighting back tears. "I'm not that emotional of a person. But for the freedoms we have, we all should pay more attention to gentlemen like Tony who go out there and fight for it...I'm going to try to keep spreading the word, to help these guys come home and help them to live normal lives."

David Wells Foundation - The former Sox southpaw lost his mother Eugenia Ann to complications of diabetes in 1997, and Boomer himself was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes a decade later. The discovery prompted major lifestyle and diet changes for Wells, and through a series of charity events and celebrity softball games from 2000 his foundation raised $90,000 for diabetes research.

Neurofibromatosis Foundation of New England - Dwight Evans and his wife Susan have long been active supporters of this cause. Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves. In the early 1980's their son Timothy was diagnosed with the malady and underwent a series of surgeries. In July 2006, Dwight and Susan co-chaired a golf fundraiser at The International in Bolton, MA. Among the many prominent New England athletes to participate was former Sox slugger and current NESN analyst Jim Rice.

Athletes Reaching Out - Founded in 1996 by then-Red Sox third baseman Tim Naehring, the ARO Foundation provides outreach services to connect local athletes with organizations in need, particularly those serving children. The foundation also provides grants for education, community service, youth sports and recreation. Tim launched ARO's flagship landmark in 1997 when he constructed a scaled-down version of Fenway Park in his hometown of Cincinnati. During his years in Boston, Tim was a dedicated participant in the Red Sox Adopt-A-School program. Nowadays he hosts an annual celebrity golf fundraiser to benefit ARO.

David Cone Foundation - David's endeavors have included an annual charity softball event hosted jointly with his fellow perfect game pitchers David Wells and Don Larsen at New York's Central Park. Beneficiaries of his foundation have included the Central Park Conservancy, the City Parks Foundation, the ALS Foundation, Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, the St. Jude's Research Hospital, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the Baseball Assistance Team, which supports retired baseball players and their families in need.

Roger Clemens Foundation -

Founded in 1992 by Roger and Debbie Clemens, Rocket's foundation focuses on causes for underprivileged and at-risk children, and children with special needs. Beneficiaries have included The Jimmy Fund, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Variety Clubs International, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Make A Wish Foundation, Sunshine Kids, Periwinkle Foundation, the National Paralysis Foundation, Starlight Children's Fund of Canada, Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Urban Dreams Youth Development Program - Mo Vaughn founded this effort in 1994 along with two childhood friends, Bryan Wilson and Roosevelt Smith. The program promotes the positive development of inner-city youths through a disciplined approach to education for at-risk and underachieving teenagers in under-served communities. Urban Dreams takes 65 kids each year from Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan and offers them opportunities in academic preparation, social and life skills education, leadership and self-awareness opportunities, and job/career development. In partnership with the Massachusetts State Police, a select group of kids is charged with developing an affordable driver's education program, since it's not offered by Boston Public Schools. After completing financial literacy and entrepreneurship training, they address marketing, business planning, administration, customer operations and quality control components. Mo has also been a generous supporter of St. Francis House for the homeless in Boston, and has worked to create more than 1,000 affordable housing units in Boston and New York.

Child Haven - Former MVP and Rookie of the Year Fred Lynn has helped raised thousands of dollars for this shelter in Las Vegas that provides temporary care and treatment for abused, neglected and abandoned children from southern Nevada. Proceeds from memorabilia sold on FredLynn.net, a web site run by Sox fan Todd Farino and endorsed by Fred, support the purchase of new sports equipment for the shelter.

MR24 Foundation - Established by Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, the charity aims to assist causes in Florida, New York and Boston. One such beneficiary is the CHARLEE Program, which helps severely abused and neglected children in the foster care system of Miami-Dade County. CHARLEE (Children Have All Rights: Legal, Educational, Emotional) now cares for over 1,000 children by providing residential, therapeutic, and adoption services.

Strikeouts for Troops - During their Red Sox tenures Curt Schilling and Manny Ramirez were both active in this cause, founded by San Francisco Giants pitcher Barry Zito. The organization aims to assist wounded American war veterans. Funds raised provide "comforts of home" to soldiers in military hospitals, cover travel expenses for family members, and provide holiday meals on Christmas and Thanksgiving for recovering veterans and their families. Entering its fourth year, the charity has also purchased gift cards, phone cards, and holiday presents for military children.

The Agganis Foundation - Harry Agganis established a scholarship fund just prior to his tragic death at age 26 in the midst of his second season with the Red Sox. To continue and build upon his efforts, the Agganis Foundation was established in 1956 by the Red Sox, The (Lynn) Daily Item newspaper and Harold O. Zimman, who was a mentor of Harry. Elmo Benedetto, then the athletic director for the Lynn Public Schools, also joined the board of directors. Through 2007, the Foundation has awarded $1,187,525 in scholarships to 780 student-athletes from throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Each year, 15 new four-year, $4,000 scholarships are presented. Through the generosity of the Yawkey Foundation, there are four scholarships earmarked to students in Boston schools each year. The foundation also sponsors the Agganis All-Star Classics, a series of high school all-star games. The football classic, first organized by Benedetto, has been played annually since 1956 with the exception of 1960-64, and the 50th Anniversary Classic will be played in the summer of 2010. Other Classics have since been added for baseball (1995), men's and women's soccer (1996), softball (1997) and men's and women's basketball (2005).

The Sean McDonough Foundation - The former Red Sox broadcaster, who manned the mike at Fenway for 17 years, is still professionally active on a national stage. He's also remained involved in many Boston area youth causes. Established in 2002 by Sean and his sister Erin, the foundation has raised $2.4 million in its first eight years, which has been distributed to 116 different Massachusetts children's charities. The foundation's hallmark event, the Celebrity Golf Classic held annually in September, was modeled after a similar charity tournament run by PGA golfers and Rhode Island natives Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade, and both have been strong supporters of Sean's events. The winning tournament team takes home the Will McDonough Cup, named for Sean and Erin's late father, the venerable Boston Globe columnist.

Doug Mirabelli's Winter Coat Drive - To help needy children in Massachusetts and his home state of Michigan stay warm, the former Sox catcher organized donations of coats, hats, gloves, and mittens for kids up to age 18. The Boston collections took place just before Christmas at the Red Sox Ticket Office on Yawkey Way.

Augie's Quest - Augie Nieto, who founded Lifecycle and today serves as chairman of Octane Fitness, was diagnosed with ALS in March 2005. Curt Schilling asked SoSH founder Lanternjaw to post the following note on the main board, which we're also adding here to help get the word out:

"Please click this link and watch the short video (about 4 minutes) about ALS and Augie's Quest for a cure. A donor is giving Augie's Quest (affiliated with the MDA) $1 for everyone who watches it! Please pass this link on to friends so we can raise as many dollars as possible for this important ALS research plan."