Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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SPIRIT OF GENEROSITY "If you see a kid struggle with any kind of health issue, you want to do something about it." Dr. Peter Slavin receives a check on behalf of MassGeneral Hospital for Children from David Ortiz and his Children's Fund at the foundation's 2013 gala. TOP RIGHT: Ortiz chats with Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox at Ortiz's annual golf fundraiser. RIGHT: Saul "Junior" Sanchez-Ruballos received medical assistance through the Children's Fund. continued from page 68 thing else: David Ortiz gives back. Big. The David Ortiz Children's Fund—a charity he founded to provide critical health care to kids in both the Dominican Republic (his native country) and here in New England—has so far raised more than $2.5 million. And in December, that fundraising effort will kick up a notch when the David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic takes place in the Dominican Republic. From December 12 through 15, Ortiz will host the sixth annual David Ortiz Celebrity Golf Classic in Punta Cana, a sparkling resort town in the Dominican Republic. The tournament—which, according to the New York Daily News is "a who's who and VIP sports showcase"—is a magnet for athletic stars. In years past, Hall of Fame Celtic Bill Russell and Hall of Fame Bruin Bobby Orr have played, as have former Red Sox players Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon, and Yankees players Mariano Rivera and Robinson Cano. "It's something we've been doing for years," says Big Papi. "It's a beautiful place. It's a lot of fun. We play golf, we party, we have a good time, and we raise a lot of money for kids who need it." The idea for the Children's Fund came to him in 2005. Ortiz—who spends half of the off-season living in Santo Domingo—visited Cedimat Hospital to help cheer up children who had recently received lifesaving heart surgery. (No surprise, Ortiz is the ultimate hometown hero in his country.) As Ortiz toured the intensive care unit, he was overwhelmed by the resilience of the kids and also by the strength of their parents. "It was very touching," recalls 70 —DAVID ORTIZ Ortiz, who himself has three children—Jessica, Alexandra, and D'Angelo. "I saw all these little kids that should have been outdoors having fun, getting dirty, and playing ball—being kids." He left the hospital that day determined to help. "If you see a kid struggle with any kind of health issue, it's sad. You want to do something about it. I had the financial opportunity to do it," he says. In 2007 he established the Children's Fund for pediatric health care in the Dominican Republic; two years later, his fund formed an official partnership with MassGeneral Hospital for Children to provide resources for kids in New England who also need care. The alliance with MGH was only natural, according to Ortiz. After all: "Boston is my second home," he says. To date, the charity has enabled hundreds of children in the Dominican Republic and New England to receive lifesaving heart surgery. "These kids are good to go," says Ortiz. Dr. Ronald Kleinman, physician-in-chief of MassGeneral Hospital for Children, says that Big Papi is always "incredibly engaging" when he visits young patients at the hospital. "He makes time for them," he says. "He gets down on their level—never talks down to them— and really connects. It's clear he really cares about the children." In 2008, Ortiz received a UNICEF Children's Champion Award. And in 2011, Major League Baseball gave Ortiz the Roberto Clemente Award, which recognizes the "player who best represents the game of baseball through positive contributions on and off the field, including sportsmanship and community involvement." But recognition is not what motivates him. "I don't really think about these awards—it's not in my nature," says Ortiz, in his trademark thick Spanish accent. "At the end of the day, what continued on page 72 PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAZ NIELL (MARTINEZ); JESSFOTO (SLAVIN, SANCHEZ-RUBALLOS) ABOVE: BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM 068-072_BC_SP_SofG_Holiday_13.indd 70 11/1/13 5:34 PM