Why — and where — athletes help out

Dave Valle
Former Mariner

Esperanza International - www.esperanza.org

"In 1985 I became a dad for the first time. I was playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic, and I just saw the poverty down there with these little kids. I have my 4-month-old baby with me and I'm watching 5-year-old kids picking out of garbages outside the ballpark. No shoes. No shirts. I just felt moved and called literally by God to come back and do something.

"Our target population of people are living at $2 a day or less. Extreme poverty. That's who we focus on. We've impacted directly about 100,000 people in a program partnership with Microsoft and provided about 47,000 loans. We've loaned close to $8 million."

Bryce Fisher
Seahawks, defensive end

Works with Gilda's Club - www.gildasclubseattle.org

"I found out my mom was sick a few years ago, and it really got me thinking now that I'm in a position that I really can do a lot of good. My mom, she's doing well now, but she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer when I signed here.

"I have thought about starting my own foundation, but I just kind of felt that it's not really something that I want to do because whenever you run a foundation, you skim off the top for administration, this, that and the other. I would rather the money go to where it can do the most good.

"My mom and dad really emphasized to us to be a part of our community and to help out where we can. And to those of us who have been extremely blessed, it's not just a want-to, it's a requirement to be a part of our community."

Jason Terry
Dallas Mavericks, guard, Seattle native

Jason Terry Foundation - www.jasonterryfoundation.org

"Being from the Seattle area, the community had a big part of raising me and molding me into the person and the player that I am today. I knew once I got to the NBA that would be my first mission to start my own foundation and try to impact a community that I was part of for so long.

"A foundation was almost first besides buying my mom a house. It just means a lot.

"I have a college fund in my name. There was a girl that came up to me during All-Star weekend in Las Vegas. She was a recipient of that scholarship and had just graduated. That almost broke me down, brought me to tears."

Earl Watson
Sonics, guard

E-magine, The Earl Watson Foundation - www.emaginefoundation.com

"I come from a city that's coming out of a depression. A city that needs some hope. For me to grow up in the middle of Kansas City and be able to have a chance financially to come back and put together programs, for me that was the most important thing.

"The last two years I've done prep SAT for all the high schools in my city. I donated a computer lab to my old high school because we didn't have computers. I never touched the Internet until I got to UCLA.

"My whole thing is it's easy to donate to certain programs and certain nonprofit foundations, but I wanted to do it myself because I wanted the impact. There's something about the impact. It does something for me to see the growth of the child or see the impact you have."

Matt Hasselbeck
Seahawks, quarterback

The Matthew Hasselbeck Foundation

"Some stories definitely touch you more than others. I remember the playoff loss [at Green Bay], where I threw the interception that lost the game. One of the things that Vienna Beef helped us do, through our foundation, was secure a luxury box to that game for a bunch of Make-A-Wish Foundation kids. Right after the game — the worst loss ever — I saw these kids and their families. It put everything in perspective, real quick.

"I did 'Wheel of Fortune' during Players Week, and whatever you win goes to the charity of your choice. I lost. I got third place. Neither guy I was playing against graduated from college, so as a Boston College alumnus, I didn't do the school any favors. But then we were clues on 'Jeopardy!' and every time they use my clue, I get a royalty that goes right to my foundation."

Chuck Darby
Seahawks, defensive tackle

The Darby Foundation

"I came from a family of poor background. We had to work for everything we got. To see kids in the same situation I was in and just give them an opportunity. Make sure they can go to school. Be able to buy their books.

"In my hometown [North, S.C.], there are no jobs. Grocery store, gas station and only one stoplight there.

"My grandfather had cancer. That's another thing. I want to set everything up so we can get to that point where I can focus on that. But you got to crawl before you walk. We're starting small."

Raul Ibanez
Mariners, left fielder

Chairs Cystic Fibrosis Mariners Care golf tournament

"When I first came up, charity work was expected of the young guys. I saw all these players — Jay [Buhner], Dan [Wilson], Edgar [Martinez], Jamie [Moyer], Randy [Johnson] — who were really involved in the community. It was refreshing. It had a really powerful impact on us as young players.

"My main thing when the Mariners asked me to do the golf tournament was I didn't want to screw it up. It's a huge responsibility.

"I collect memorabilia [for the tournament auction]. There are a lot of really cool pieces. I see so much baseball stuff, I like when they have a football helmet. Shaun Alexander stuff. Or a Ray Allen autographed basketball."

Harold Reynolds
Former Mariner

Serves on the board of Garth Brooks' foundation, Teammates for Kids

"To be able to alter a life in the glimpse of an eye is mighty powerful. I was speaking in Seattle, and I had three girls come up to me. They were all 14. One girl said nobody loved her, nobody cared about her. The second said she was being abused. The third said she was going to run away.

"That became an eye-opener for me. And that changed my whole speech in high schools. It went from, 'Make sure you study and get your grades' to 'I know you're hurting. I know you're going through things. And I can identify with you.'

"I'll never forget. I was walking through the turnstiles at the Kingdome, going through one of those 0 for 20s you go through every summer. And this kid goes, 'Hey, I don't want your autograph. I want to tell you something. I was contemplating killing myself, and you came to speak at our school, and I realized my life has purpose.' And I went, 'Wow.' That's when you know you're making a difference."

Dan Wilson
Former Mariner

Works with First Place School - www.firstplaceschool.org

"They do amazing work there. They are heroes every day.

"We had a day where we were going to get some snow in Seattle. I happened to be at First Place, and I said, 'Are you guys excited for tomorrow? You won't have to come to school.' When I was a kid, that was the best. And I was shocked at their reactions. They were really disappointed that there might not be school tomorrow. What happens is First Place becomes, really, one of the only stable things in their life. It really becomes like home for them.

"You don't hear enough about athlete charity work. Most of the time, guys don't want you to hear about it. But they do it because they want to do it. It's from their heart."

Edgar Martinez
Former Mariner

Works with Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center - www.seattlechildrens.org

"Living in Puerto Rico, it is a society that they help each other a lot. Neighbors come and it's very close. It was something that I learned early. We live in this community, and it's in everybody's interest to help some of the social issues and some of the troubles so we become a more stable community.

"The Mariners were a big part. The Mariners as a team, we have Howard Lincoln, Chuck Armstrong, all these people they really emphasized giving back to the community, which was great. I've been seeing that in the organization for years. So together, the Mariners have been a great, great part of me giving back to the community."