Red Sox give time to area kids

Red Sox mascot "Wally" helps Red Sox fan Bobby Hurst get an autograph from Red Sox players like Jed Lowrie and Manny Delcarmen.

Major League baseball is the major sponsor of the Boys & Girls Clubs around the nation and recently the local Red Sox took some time to show Lee County children that they care.

Several team members including now-retired Dwight Evans and current manager Terry Francona joined the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County for the third annual "Evening with the Red Sox Dinner and Auction."

"This is a great opportunity to partner with the Red Sox and raise funds to help support our programs," said Greg Brock, a board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County and an organizer of the event. "There is such a big need in the community and (the money) will go straight to the kids."

Being able to better serve the children in Lee County prompted the club to host the dinner and auction in hopes of raising $60,000.

"All the money raised helps offset the kids' memberships and we only charge them $10 a year for our programs," said Bill Gunnin, a board member of the club. "We don't turn any kid away because of financial need and having the Red Sox help us with that is great."

Event attendees gathered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at Bell Tower and spent an evening that included a visit from "Wally" the Red Sox mascot.

"It's always great to do something like this and the kids is what it's all about," said Evans, a retired Red Sox player who lives in south Fort Myers and helped the club organize the event."

A silent and live auction was held throughout the evening and more than 160 pieces were sold including jersey's, cards and trips.

Ninety percent of the night's proceeds were donated to the club that garnered $50,000 during last year's event.

"I wanted to do something where I could raise money for disadvantaged kids because that's God's work," said Rob Hurst, the club's board member and life-long Red Sox fan who approached the team with the idea for a dinner three years ago. "In season, we have a lot of people from the Boston area who come to visit for spring training."

"This is a great opportunity to partner with the Red Sox and raise funds to help support our programs. There is such a big need in the community and (the money) will go straight to the kids."