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Red Sox GM stresses importance of giving back to community

Date: 4/26/2010

April 26, 2010

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- Although the YMCA Annual Campaign started April 1, the morning of April 21 was a much more important date for the organization -- it hosted its campaign kickoff breakfast at Western New England College.

The breakfast was attended by nearly 900 supporters, including keynote speaker Theo Epstein, executive vice president and general manager of the Boston Red Sox.

"The [kickoff breakfast] is kind of snowballing each year," Kathy Treglia, vice president and executive director of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, said. "We almost doubled the amount of people we had last year. I think part of that comes from the Red Sox working with us, and part comes from our great sponsors."

This is the fourth year in a row a representative from the Boston-based ball club has been featured at the breakfast. Last year, it was pitcher Tim Wakefield.

"The Y does a fantastic job of making sure kids grow up the right way," Epstein said in an interview with Reminder Publications. A native of Brookline, Mass., Epstein noted that while he never participated in YMCA programs as a youth, he and his twin brother were part of the West End House Boys & Girls Club in Allston. He said that organization shares the same principles as the YMCA, with a focus on developing youths' minds and bodies.

"Red Sox Nation is vast, and there are lots of opportunities within that nation to support a great cause like the Y," Epstein said. "They have such a passion, and it would be great to transfer that passion to something that supports kids. There just aren't enough government programs to support kids in need."

During his keynote address, Epstein stated his twin brother Paul, a social worker, is his hero. "We both found our callings," Epstein said. "I selfishly pursued baseball . . . he selflessly pursued work for others. I took a lesson from that ... There are too many people affected by need. Real social work, real investment in the community is not a 9 to 5 job it becomes a life's work. I thank God for people like my brother and organizations like the YMCA."

The goal of the YMCA's 2010 campaign is to raise $300,000 to support myriad youth programs at both the Chestnut Street facility in Springfield and the Scantic Valley YMCA in Wilbraham, according to Treglia.

"We use the funds for scholarships, for camps, for daycare . . . as well as youth programs at the North End Teen Center, the Lower Liberty Heights Center and the Sullivan Apartments in Springfield and Birch Park in West Springfield," she explained. "The demand has always exceeded what we were able to raise but we're getting closer."

She noted that the 2009 campaign was a successful one, even though the state and the nation were mired in a recession. A total of $400,000 was requested for programs and scholarships last year, and Treglia said the YMCA has set the bar even higher this year.

At the start of the breakfast on April 21, the organization was already more than halfway to its goal, with $151,000 raised, according to Kate Kane, co-chair of the 2010 Annual Campaign and managing director of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

A live auction before Epstein's speech brought in more than $10,000. The highest-priced items were two sets of a pair of tickets to upcoming Red Sox games in Epstein's private box at Fenway Park, where the winning bidders could watch games with the general manager and his family. Both sets went for $3,750. Epstein joked part of the package included "guaranteed wins" from the ball club.

"It's important to focus on the Red Sox commitment to community off the field," Epstein said during his speech. "We give not only more than any other Major League Baseball team, but more than any other professional sports team."

He added that it was important to remember that a team is more powerful than any one individual.

James O'S Morton, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, said his organization "builds hope and fosters dreams each and every day."

"We can move mountains because of you," he told supporters at the breakfast.

To learn more about what the YMCA of Greater Springfield does or to contribute to the 2010 Annual Campaign, visit
This is the fourth year in a row a representative from the Boston-based ball club has been featured at the breakfast. Last year, it was pitcher Tim Wakefield.

"The Y does a fantastic job of making sure kids grow up the right way," Epstein said in an interview with Reminder Publications. A native of Brookline, Mass., Epstein noted that while he never participated in YMCA programs as a youth, he and his twin brother were part of the West End House Boys & Girls Club in Allston. He said that organization shares the same principles as the YMCA, with a focus on developing youths' minds and bodies.

"Red Sox Nation is vast, and there are lots of opportunities within that nation to support a great cause like the Y," Epstein said. "They have such a passion, and it would be great to transfer that passion to something that supports kids. There just aren't enough government programs to support kids in need."

During his keynote address, Epstein stated his twin brother Paul, a social worker, is his hero. "We both found our callings," Epstein said. "I selfishly pursued baseball ... he selflessly pursued work for others. I took a lesson from that ... There are too many people affected by need. Real social work, real investment in the community is not a 9 to 5 job it becomes a life's work. I thank God for people like my brother and organizations like the YMCA."

The goal of the YMCA's 2010 campaign is to raise $300,000 to support myriad youth programs at both the Chestnut Street facility in Springfield and the Scantic Valley YMCA in Wilbraham, according to Treglia.

"We use the funds for scholarships, for camps, for daycare ... as well as youth programs at the North End Teen Center, the Lower Liberty Heights Center and the Sullivan Apartments in Springfield and Birch Park in West Springfield," she explained. "The demand has always exceeded what we were able to raise but we're getting closer."

She noted that the 2009 campaign was a successful one, even though the state and the nation were mired in a recession. A total of $400,000 was requested for programs and scholarships last year, and Treglia said the YMCA has set the bar even higher this year.

At the start of the breakfast on April 21, the organization was already more than halfway to its goal, with $151,000 raised, according to Kate Kane, co-chair of the 2010 Annual Campaign and managing director of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.

A live auction before Epstein's speech brought in more than $10,000. The highest-priced items were two sets of a pair of tickets to upcoming Red Sox games in Epstein's private box at Fenway Park, where the winning bidders could watch games with the general manager and his family. Both sets went for $3,750. Epstein joked part of the package included "guaranteed wins" from the ball club.

"It's important to focus on the Red Sox commitment to community off the field," Epstein said during his speech. "We give not only more than any other Major League Baseball team, but more than any other professional sports team."

He added that it was important to remember that a team is more powerful than any one individual.

James O'S Morton, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, said his organization "builds hope and fosters dreams each and every day."

"We can move mountains because of you," he told supporters at the breakfast.

To learn more about what the YMCA of Greater Springfield does or to contribute to the 2010 Annual Campaign, visit
www.springfieldy.org.

To see video of some of Theo Epstein's speech, visit www.facebook.com/Reminder Publications..