Athletes Gone Good: Q&A With David Ortiz

The 2012 MLB All-Star Game is upon us. And there’s quite the line-up, with some of baseball’s bests coming out for the “Midsummer Classic.”

The game’s set to take place tonight, and we were able to chat just in time with one of the all-starts: David Ortiz.

The Boston Red Sox Designated Hitter/First Basemen started the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which helps to give low-income children medical care. Here's what he had to say.

How was the idea for the David Ortiz Children’s Fund (DOCF) born?

It all started when I made a trip to a local hospital in the Dominican Republic. I was visiting children who had received life-saving heart care operations.  I couldn’t help but think that in another life, one of these kids could be my own son. If it wasn’t for baseball, I may have remained in the Dominican Republic and who knows where life would have taken me.  It was then that I knew that I had to use the gift that I received, to play baseball, to do whatever I could to give back.

Who/what inspired you to take action?

There was a very touching moment for me early on that will always stick with me.  It was on my second trip back to the hospital. I met with a girl, Diana Reyes, who had been a beneficiary, and she told me “thank you for the chance to live.”  When that sunk in man, it was all the inspiration I needed. 

Can you share a memory that especially stands out about the work you do?

Every year at the DOCF Celebrity Golf Classic, they bring certain people who have been touched in some way by the funds that we raise.  Whether they are children who received life-saving operations or nurses who were trained to better serve patients, it is always a special moment that keeps motivating me. 

Any advice for teens looking to make a difference?

Time can be just as valuable as money.  A lot of teens...think because they don’t have money to donate to certain causes, they can’t help out, but in many cases donating their time is just as important.

How has sports affected your life?

Baseball has given me the platform to give back.  It is an honor to be someone that so many people look up to, and with that, it is a privilege to be able to use that for the greater good. 

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