Show Them the Money!

Records Reveal Many Local Athletes Aren't Putting Up Charity Numbers

Pedro Martinez and Manny Ramirez, the Two Highest-Paid Athletes in
New England History, Have Failed to Deliver on Charitable Promises

"Manny Ramirez announced at his introductory news conference with the Red Sox in 2001 that he would donate $1 million to area programs for Latino youth. But five years into his eight-year, $160 million relationship with the Sox, Ramirez has failed to deliver. He also has yet to fulfull the pledge he made 19 months ago to launch a charitable foundation to carry out his mission.

"In addition, the head of a program for severely abused and neglected children in Florida indicated that Ramirez has embellished his charitable relationship with the organization...

"In Ramirez's case, he pledged in March 2004 to form the MR24 Foundation. He continues to claim on his website (mannyramirez.com) that the foundation 'is amid the process of being established.' Yet no such foundation has been formed, even though philanthropy specialists say formally creating such an organization generally takes no longer than nine months.

"Asked recently about the foundation's status, Ramirez shrugged his shoulders, threw up his hands, and walked away. His agent, Greg Genske, did not return numerous messages to discuss Ramirez's charitable work." -- 10.23, Bob Hohler, Boston Sunday Globe

And Write a Check for the Kids at George Washington High Too

"For less than one-tenth of one percent of his income, between $10,000 and $20,000, Ramirez could enable his former team to have new uniforms, new baseballs, new bats. But the George Washington players should not sit around waiting for the contribution.

"'Unfortunately, we keep waiting and hoping, but it doesn't happen,' said Steve Mandl, the George Washington baseball coach now and when Ramirez played on the team from 1989 through 1991...

"His former agent, Jeff Moorad, now the chief executive of the Arizona Diamondbacks, has said that Ramirez is committed to giving $1 million over the life of his eight-year contract to Latino groups in the Boston area, particularly those that support children.

"Although Moorad has indicated that Ramirez would eventually do something for the players at George Washington, it hasn't happened." -- 11.2.04, New York Times, On Baseball: Silence, Not Assistance, From Ramirez (subscription required)

Manny's Boys

Sara Rimer, an education reporter for The New York Times, is writing a book about the George Washington High School baseball team and its most famous alumnus, Manny Ramirez.
-- 10.23.05, New York Times (subscription required)

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