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South End Baseball celebrates Robert Lewis, Jr. by Bessie King
MySouthEnd.com ContributorWednesday May 20, 2009 More than 200 people celebrated the community efforts of Robert Lewis, Jr. on Monday night, May 18 at "Opening Night at the Park," a fundraiser for the South End Baseball Astros held at Jim Rice Field. The night was filled with ballpark-style food, speeches from supporters and past players, and honorary first pitches thrown by Mayor Thomas Menino and Boston Red Sox reliever Manny Delcarmen.
Volunteers dressed in bright red Astros shirts, like those of the team, filled a large tent set up at the field and greeted guests who donated $100 to attend. Once inside, guests enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit and cookies from Smokey’s Longhorn Catering. More volunteers walked around giving away peanuts or popcorn.
Guests took part in a meet and greet with famous athletes and an Astros warm-up practice and demonstration session. Jennifer Acosta then sang the National Anthem and the event continued with a silent auction, and a recognition of the program’s founder.
"The Astros changed my life and this is the best program in Boston right now, and I hope it gets stronger," said Delcarmen, the 27-year-old righty who has been a mainstay in the Red Sox bullpen over the past four seasons.
The fundraiser brought together former Astros players, like Delcarmen, including Minnesota Twins prospect Juan Carlos Portes, and also drew Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn.
Robert Lewis Jr. established the baseball program in 1979 at Villa Victoria for low-income youth. Since then, the program has served 2,000 teens, with more than 75 percent of them attending college after graduating high school and 100 percent of them participating in community service. In 1987, the Boston Astros program was incorporated as part of South End Baseball, a free baseball and softball program serving boys and girls from diverse neighborhoods throughout the city each year. After all these years, the man who started it all has staid involved in the development of this neighborhood staple.
"Since the beginning it was about the kids, and it has been about the kids for 30 years. I feel honored and thankful for being part of this and you are all witnesses to one of the best programs in the country and one of the best teams in the nation," said Lewis after receiving an honorary award for his service.
Lewis received his award from Paul Epstein, Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein’s brother, and Mark Frevert, executive vice president of Grand Circle Foundation, the team’s main sponsor. But current and past players and community leaders also took the stage to congratulate Lewis on his 30-year Astros career and to thank him for his dedication.
At the event more than 10 gifts were part of a silent auction. The items up for auction included four coveted field box Red Sox tickets, a party for 45 people at Harpoon Brewery’s 530 Club, and a $150 gift card to Eastern Standard restaurant with tickets to the Boston Ballet.
All the money raised will help South End Baseball and support one special initiative. Every year all the seniors on a South End Baseball team who graduate high school and enter college receive a laptop and printer as part of a congratulations gift from the program. It also serves as an incentive to make players invest in their education as much as they do in the game.
"There are no words to describe it. Robert runs the best program in the city and the kids benefit so much from it. We are very grateful," said Marcia Gregg, of Back Bay, whose son has played for the Astros for two years.
Having an annual operating budget of $100,000 has not deterred the Astros from outplaying teams with five times their budget and establishing themselves as one of the elite teams in the U.S. The Astros have played the Canadian National Team, the Dominican Republic All-Stars, Team Puerto Rico, and the Bronx New York Stars, in addition to several teams along the east coast of the U.S. The Astros have participated in 12 National Championship Tournaments since 2000 and were the 2002 Champions of the Triple Crown National Tournament. They were also the 2004, 2007 and 2008 New England Regional Champions and the Eastern Massachusetts State Champions in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
At the end of the night the fundraiser brought in about $42,000, and may have recruited future supporters.
"I am truly impressed and inspired by a program that brings so many great people together, I’m looking forward to learning more," said Katie Pakenham of Allston.
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