When the March of Dimes needed some juice for the lineup at Morton”™s steakhouse in Stamford last week, the birth-defects charity penciled in Willie Randolph at the top of the scorecard.
For many nonprofit organizations, a big part of their continued success is due to corporate giving and fundraising. This year, former all-star baseball player and current New York Mets Manager Willie Randolph was the guest of honor.
The dinner was the “Legends” fundraiser to benefit the Connecticut Chapter of the March of Dimes. Each year, the event honors a person from the world of professional sports who has lent his or her time to supporting the March of Dimes cause.
The March of Dimes is a national nonprofit agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
A silent auction to raise money for the organization featuring sports memorabilia was also conducted and early bidding (in the thousands for a Mets road-trip package) indicated the auction would be a success.
The Connecticut chapter raises about $2.4 million annually and much of that comes from corporate giving, said Julie Fronckowiak, state director for the chapter.
“The business community really does a lot to support the March of Dimes,” she said. “It”™s a compelling mission; it”™s a way to help the next generation of the community.”
Randolph lent his time to attend the fundraiser during the baseball season because he believes it is important for professional athletes to give back to the community.
“Being involved in charities is something I grew up doing,” Randolph said. “The mission of the March of Dimes is very dear to me.”
Thomas Baldwin, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Morton”™s Restaurant Group, said Morton”™s is proud of its longstanding association with the March of Dimes.
“It is really a great cause, and we are glad to help out in any way we can,” said Baldwin, a New Canaan resident.
The event was emceed by another New Canaanite, Armen Keteyian. He is currently the chief investigative correspondent for CBS News and also contributes to the HBO program “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.”
Keteyian praised Randolph”™s involvement with charity work.
“This is the kind of thing athletes should do and not expect something in return,” he said.
He said the Mets”™ hard-nosed play on the field reflected Randolph”™s personality.
“Willie”™s old school, and the team is the embodiment of the man who manages them,” he said. “Certainly, the Mets are on fire right now.”
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