In Boston, Chad Finn notes ESPN's JOHN BUCCIGROSS "sells retro-styled ... T-shirts and hats" on his website for a couple different initiatives with all proceeds going to "various hockey-led or hockey-related charities." He has raised enough this year through the sale of his Bucci's Overtime Challenge and Cawlidge Hockey apparel "to be able to pay for the tuition of a club hockey player." Buccigross: "This past year, I sold over $100,000 worth of stuff, so we’ll be able to send out some good-sized checks. Last year I wrote checks for $60,000 to charities. It’s really mind-boggling considering it began on a whim" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/10).
WIZARD OF WESTBROOK: Thunder G RUSSELL WESTBROOK on Thursday "hosted his fifth annual Why Not? Bowl charity event." The event which benefits his foundation, which "supports community-based education and family service programs and encourages youth to believe in themselves." Westbrook said of why the cause is important to him, "This is another event to get a chance to raise money to be able to help mostly the kids in need. My job is to be able to find different ways to be able to raise money so I can go out and help kids as in Reading Rooms or whatever it is that may be that I want to help oversee.” He added, "It’s an honor to be able to see it unfold. When I first talked about a foundation, we kind of sat down and had a plan and to see it unfold is a blessing and is a great thing" (OKLAHOMAN, 4/10).
DREAM A LITTLE DREAM: The Sabres will be "taking part in the launch of a scholarship fund in memory of" late D STEVE MONTADOR, who "died suddenly in February at age 35." Dubbed The Steve Montador “Dream Big” Scholarship Fund, it has been "formed with an initial $10,000 donation furnished by the Sabres, the Sabres Foundation, the Sabres Alumni Association, current Sabres players" and former Sabres Managing Partner & Minority Owner LARRY QUINN. The “Dream Big” moniker "stems from a favorite phrase of Montador’s, one that he used when signing autographs for fans." The fund will be "overseen by a board that includes Montador’s father, PAUL." It remains in the "planning stages and donations can be made at Sabres.com/dreambig" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 4/9).
APPETITE FOR CONSTRUCTION: White Sox 1B ADAM LAROCHE "fronted the money" for Fort Scott High School -- about 90 miles from K.C. -- to build a new ballpark that cost upward of $2.5M and "spent two years involving himself in the details of the project, even calling the contractors from spring training." LaRoche returned to his alma mater on Tuesday for the opening of the "pristine new facility" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/8).
FOUR ON THE FLOOR: The Marlins Foundation on Thursday announced their '15 Charity Partners: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, Special Olympics Florida -- Miami-Dade, Up2Us Sports and Young At Art Museum. The four organizations will each receive a $25,000 contribution from the foundation (Marlins).
