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| Photo Credit: Daniel Ortiz |
George Springer and SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young hit the ball out of the park at the George Springer All-Star Bowling Benefit held on Sunday, July 8, 2018, at Bowlmor Houston. Springer along with fellow teammates, local celebrities, Co-chairs Lara Bell and Melissa DeAyala, Junior Chair Matthew DeAyala, Honorary Chair Dr. Carolyn Farb and 450 fans raised more than $250,000. Proceeds from the event will send children from families-in-need to Camp SAY, a life-changing summer camp for young people who stutter. Springer, a person who stutters, hosted the Bowling Benefit to provide financial aid help and ensure that children from all socio-economic backgrounds have access to Camp SAY.
During a VIP pre-game celebration Taro Alexander, founder of SAY, led with "Hype" - a call-and-response pep rally with Springer and guests forming a huge circle of support around all of the kids who stutter. Alexander continued with the inspiring story of his experience as a person who stutters and how Camp SAY is changing lives because every voice matters. Springer, the national spokesperson for Camp SAY, stepped up to the plate to voice his support for young people who stutter. He welcomed the kids in attendance and all kids who stutter to become a part of his team.
The event was in full swing when Noah Cornman, Executive Director of SAY, welcomed the crowd and cheered them on to provide every young person who stutters access to Camp SAY. The Co-chairs and Honorary Chair kept the hype going as they encouraged the crowd to get excited to bowl and raise funds for Camp SAY. Cornman, along with SAY Director of Programming Travis Robertson, gave a special performance of a Camp SAY "morning song" dedicated to Springer, followed by inspiring speeches from Camp SAY kids Malcolm Venable, and Finn Balan, who presented Springer with the SAY Hero Award. The evening was dedicated to HPD Officer Jerry Flores, a longtime friend of the Astros who is recovering from an accident.
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| Photo Credit: Daniel Ortiz |
DJ Senega provided the tunes for guests to hit the lanes for dancing and bowling with Springer, celebrities and young people who stutter. The silent auction provoked friendly competition, but everyone came together to cheer Springer and the celebrity lane captain roster, which included:
KHOU Meteorologist Chita Craft
KHOU's Great Day Houston Host Deborah Duncan
KPRC Radio Host Michael Garfield
CultureMap Columnist Ken Hoffman
Walton & Johnson Radio Show Host Steve Johnson
NBA Charlotte Hornets Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
KPRC's Khambrel Marshall
KTRK's David Nuno
Former Houston Oilers Dan Pastorini
KHMX Radio Host
Sarah Pepper
KPRC's Chester Pitts
KODA Radio Host Jay Rodriguez
KHMX Radio Host Geoff Sheen
KHOU's TV Anchor Ron Trevino
KPRC's Courtney Zavala
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| Photo Credit: Daniel Ortiz |
A Day Camp was held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at the Magnolia Houston Hotel, for young people who stutter. The free life-changing camp allowed kids and teens the opportunity to meet new friends who stutter and participate in exciting activities that help build confidence. Afterwards, the campers and their parents joined SAY for the Houston Astros vs. Chicago White Sox afternoon game, including a meet and greet with Springer in the Astros Press Room.
Loading up the bases with support from the Houston Astros were Springer's teammates Chris Devenski, Tony Kemp, Lance McCullers, Brad Peacock, Tony Sipp, Joe Smith, Astros third base coach Gary Pettis, Astros bullpen coach Doug White, Astros Manager AJ Hinch and Astros President Reid Ryan.
Star players in the game included: Randy Bates, Dr. Kevin Smith, Toni & Scott Hughes, Lackland H. Bloom III, Justin Ellerton, John J. O'Brien, Jeff Gorski, Liz & Dave Unger, Shaun Smithson, Terry Deckard, Cheryl Sue, George's wife Charlise and his parents, George and Marie Springer, Lee and Corrine Vela of Clear Channel Outdoor, Rod Windham of iHeart Media, Roseann Rogers, and Russell Masraff.
The event was made possible by the generous support of the exclusive radio and outdoor media sponsors: SportsTalk 790AM, who broadcasted live from the bowling event, iHeartMedia Houston, and Clear Channel Outdoor.
Victory was made possible with the support of event sponsors: H-E-B, Anheuser Busch, Karya Property Management, Axe Bat, PFS Group, Phillips 66, Schechter McElwee Shaffer & Harris, Merrill Lynch, Fig & Olive, J.K. Inc., Selah Financial Services, Pura Vida Spirits, The Legacy Agency, Guggenheim Bank, Blackhorse, and Hotel Zaza Memorial City.
Media sponsors included: CultureMap, Defender, Energy Corridor Living, Hot in Houston Now, Houston Family Magazine, Houston Modern Luxury, Houstonia, JMG, Key Magazine, Swoon Memorial, Town & Country Sports and Yelp.
(This post taken from a release sent to me by The Padgett Group)
