Amazing how far a cup of joe and a plate of bacon and eggs goes in the sometimes surprising world of fundraising. Case in point is Tuesday's "Breakfast of Champions" benefitting SpringSpirit Baseball. With baseball greats Lance Berkman and Andy Pettitte in the spotlight, the event raised a whopping $700,000 and change.
That handsome sum supports the baseball program that serves more than 1,000 under-served youth in the north Spring Branch area, offering everything from baseball tournaments, recreational programs and after-school programs to summer camp opportunities.
Berkman and his wife, Cara Berkman, served as honorary chairs of the event that was chaired by Renee and Mark Lange. With that team and with Karen and Gus Comiskey as honorees, the financial homerun was all but guaranteed.
Lance Berkman showed his comedic side, keeping the room in stitches while interviewing Pettitte with comments such as "Now all pitchers think they can hit, but . . . " Pettitte spoke on his experiences, both good and bad, playing for the Yankees; on how faith drives his personality and how he strongly supports SpringSpirit Baseball's mentoring program.
Supporting the team effort were Cody Carlson, Laura Pettitte, Brad Freels, Barbara and Greg Martin, Jacob Baker, Paul Lanish, J.C. Clemens Jr., John Brollier, Angela and Steve Schwarzbach, Sondra and Pat Appel, Colleen and Mark McLane and Aimee and Wynne Snoots.
Baseball greats Lance Berkman, left, and Andy Pettitte take the stage at SpringSpirit Baseball annual breakfast.
