Baseball and breakfast wouldn't be the first combo to come to mind when thinking fundraising for under-served children. But the fourth annual SpringSpirit Baseball's "Breakfast of Champions" married the two in a fundraising event that brought in an amazing $585,000, a figure that even few benefit luncheons achieve.
It could have been the star power behind the event, chairs Cara and Lance Berkman with co-chair Melissa and Mano DeAyala. Or it could have been the noble cause of supporting youth in the north Spring Branch area with community programs including mentoring, sports activities and personal development. Or perhaps it was guest speaker Joe Ehrmann, former NFL defensive star and founder of Coach for America.
Whatever was behind the success, more than 500 guests poured into River Oaks Country Club for bacon, eggs and philanthropy. Sports fans were not disappointed in the turnout that included baseball greats Craig Reynolds, Bo Porter, Tim Belk, Wayne Graham, Reid Ryan, Mark Appel, Kevin Witt, Allan Ramirez, Mark Thurmond, Todd Haney, John Edwards and Tony Metoyer and NFL players Cody Carlson and Doug Dawson.
Supporters of the program that serves hundreds of youngsters aged 4 to 17 includedMatt Musil, Pat Appel, Shern-Min Chow, Aimee Snoots, State Rep. Jim Murphy, Steve Schwarzbach, the Rev. Jim Jackson, Kay House and Hugh Phillips as well as a number of youngsters served by the program.
Cara and Lance Berkman at the SpringSpirit Baseball Breakfast.
