08/25/2014 at 10:20am EDT
Over the weekend the 6th Annual Softball game to benefit the Joe Kocur Foundation for Children took place north of Detroit, Mich. Celebrities including NHL, NFL and MLB alumni along with radio and television personalities including: Joe Kocur, Darren McCarty, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper (yes all of the members of the grindlines), Eric Hipple, Dino Ciccarelli, WRIF’s Meltdown, and Amy Andrews from Fox 2, hit the field for the all-day event to raise money for charity.
The Joe Kocur Foundation For Children was created in 2009 with a mission to assist needy families and charities with local events that allow interaction within the communities themselves. Just a few of the organizations that have benefited from the foundation over the years include: FAR Conservatory, The Huron Valley Special Olympics, Orchard Children’s Service, and The Wings of Mercy. Along with the yearly softball event the Foundation also held a benefit for the family of Officer Patrick O’Rourke (West Bloomfield, Mich. Police Officer killed in the line of duty) in which $150,000 was raised.
The yearly softball event is more than just softball, it is a great day-long event for the entire family while helping those in the community.
Two of the fields at the park were designated for kids with games, bounces houses, rides, and a rock climbing wall. Kids got to participate in a tug-o-war on the main field where the four games took place and won prizes and free slurpees.
University of Michigan’s Survival Flight helicopter made a stop for an up close look and photo opportunities. PAWS from the Detroit Tigers made an appearance.
Tents filled with items for auction to raise money and a few impromptu live auctions between games where those in attendance were able to bid on VIP passes to hang out in the VIP area with all of the celebrities.
Autographs were a plenty as players would sign items from the bench and walking around. Former Red Wings Ted Lindsay and Darren McCarty had a table set up where they signed autographs. There was a stage with music and speaking of Darren McCarty…
While numbers are still being calculated from ticket sales, raffles, donations, food & beverage sales, foundation items sales, and auctions from over the weekend to see how much was raised, the rough estimate is close to $100,000.
While in the kids zone there were tubs of ice and water for the kids to do their own ice bucket challenges (and keep cool in the August heat) the players were all challenged by actress Erin Cummings to participate (and donate $100 each to ALS).
An event that truly keeps on giving.
And in closing …
If you missed the event and would like to donate to the Joe Kocur Foundation for Children you can do so by visiting the official website here.
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