News
Roberts, Markakis contribute off field
Orioles duo to hold separate charity fundraisers Sunday
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
08/16/09 3:15 PM ET
BALTIMORE -- Two of the most visible players in the Orioles organization will spend Sunday afternoon on the field and then later that evening deeply enmeshed within their community. Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis will both hold charitable endeavors to benefit their signature causes, giving back to a segment of society with which they feel an innate connection.For both Roberts and Markakis, that means disadvantaged children within the community. Roberts, who underwent surgery to repair a congenital heart condition when he was young, will hold his fourth annual Brian's Bash at the ESPNZone, an event designed to raise funds for the University of Maryland Hospital for Children.
Roberts has raised more than $450,000 through the Bash over the past three seasons, and this year marks an important development in his relationship with the hospital. Roberts and his wife, Diana, were both named to the hospital's board of advisors as co-chairs, a responsibility he couldn't have envisioned eight years ago.
"We put a lot of thought into it, and we thought about what we could do and how we could possibly make it unique," said Roberts of his chosen charity. "We still had no idea what it was going to turn into. The longevity of it is surprising, because you never know how long you're going to be in one place. But it just goes to show you what good fans we have in this city. Not only do they like their sports, they enjoy supporting what I think is a good cause."
Roberts, who often visits the hospital and eschews publicity for doing it, is also a fixture at the Orioles' annual Christmas party for kids. His Bash is unique in that it offers fans the opportunity to mingle with players and get autographs and also to bid on sports memorabilia through silent and live auctions.
Roberts raised more than $175,000 for the hospital last year and hopes to continue doing so for years to come.
"I think we can raise more money," he said of the plans for future editions of Brian's Bash. "But the venue that we do it at -- the ESPNZone -- has been sold out for four years. It's not like numbers-wise we can make it much bigger, but we can always try to do things to try to create more revenue and raise more money."
Roberts was the team's nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award -- which is annually presented to a player with exemplary accomplishments within the community -- in 2007. Markakis, who started The Right Side Foundation after inking a lucrative six-year contract extension last winter, will be the team's nominee this year.
Markakis administers the foundation with his wife Christina, and the stated mission is to assist Maryland children in distress. The Right Side Foundation will host its first annual 5K and One Mile Fun Walk on Sunday, an event that will take place between 5-8 p.m. ET at Baltimore's Patterson Park.
Both Roberts and Markakis homered on Sunday, and will go right back to their primary roles on Monday, but their hearts will never be far from the causes they choose to promote and help prosper.
"Being in the spotlight isn't something that you'd always necessarily want," said Roberts. "But when you can use it for good, you certainly realize how blessed you are. I believe that God's put me here for specific reasons, and obviously this is one of them that I feel is why I'm here."
Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
