How did you get involved with Food for the Hungry?
In St. Louis, where I played for the last couple years, my teammate Adam Wainwright was partnered up with them in doing a Striking Out Poverty campaign. I got to meet some of the team and it has blossomed into great relationships.
What inspired the initiative for the "Striking Out Poverty" campaign?
I felt the urge to want to participate in my own campaign from seeing how efficient Adam’s operated and the results that came to fruition. It seemed like a no-brainer. In its simplest form, all I would have to do is continue to do what I was already doing, play baseball. My work on the field would allow opportunities to grow in other fields.
Your noted goal is to collect resources and raise money for the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. What motivated you to campaign for this demographic in particular?
In spring training this year, Food for the Hungry had Crossroads Foundation come in for two nights to do a simulation on “Struggle for Survival.” They had us work as if we were the Rohingya refugees fighting to survive by working in extremely harsh environments. We would have newspaper, rip them in half then with the mixture of flour and water, which made a “glue” like substance, we’d fold the newspaper and use the glue to make small bags. These bags would then be sold to the market for some change. If they weren’t made well enough, they would rip them all up. Back to square one. The precision and calmness to efficiently make these bags in such a short amount of time is incredible. The Rohingyas faced this every day to try and put food, water and possibly medicine on the table. Even though it was a simulation, I felt it. The stress, fear, laser focus and all they came with it. It was the definition of hard. That’s why I chose them.
As a pro MLB player, I'm sure you've had the opportunity to see and be involved in so many exciting projects. From the philanthropic side of things, has there been a favorite campaign that you've worked on or a nonprofit that you're really loved working with?
Absolutely. They have all been great. I can’t be playing favorites, but I’ll always be thankful for Big League Impact. Adam Wainwright helped paint me a picture by the things he did and is doing through his nonprofit. The answers from questions I’ve asked and conversations that sparked out of thin air, all geared towards building on top of the passion I was already feeling for giving back.
What motivates you to give back?
To see restoration, sustainability and joy. You can’t always make the problem go away. You hardly ever see that. But by instilling those qualities back into people, that is what makes change.
Looking into the future, are there any other projects that you're excited to work on?
There will always be projects to come and knowing what those are? I am not too sure. I like to go where I am lead. Keeping an open-mind and trusting in God to put me where I’m needed is key. I don’t have a focus right now except that my focus is just to help. Whatever and wherever, that is what I’m excited for.
