A major league effort to supply relief

Bryce Alderton

Jason Smith wanted to do more than just write a check.

The Cleveland Indians scout read about and saw television reports

of the devastation from the tsunami that pounded coastlines of

Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand late last month, killing

hundreds of thousands in its wake, and wondered what he could do.

After brainstorming and speaking with William “Bo” Hughes, the

head of the Professional Baseball Scouts of Southern California,

Smith decided to focus on his strengths to help those in the ravaged

areas regain theirs.

So on Jan. 30, the PBSSC, in partnership with World Vision, a top

international relief and development humanitarian agency, and UC

Irvine, will stage a fundraiser for tsunami victims at Anteater

Ballpark.

Smith is still working out the final details, but expects

festivities to begin around noon, with a keynote speech by Dodger

Manager Jim Tracy to kick things off, followed by an autograph

session with current and former major and minor leaguers, along with

a home run derby.

Admission is $20.

Smith has already received commitments from Baltimore Orioles

shortstop Chris Gomez, San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Brett

Tomko and Dodger batting coach Tim Wallach, a five-time National

League All-Star third baseman during a 17-year big league career.

The list of players is growing by the day and Smith, who scouts

high school, community college and university players in Southern

California, is giving himself plenty of leeway in planning the event.

“I’m fully preparing myself for 30 people to be there, but am also

preparing for 2,000,” said Smith, a Long Beach resident in his first

attempt spearheading a fundraising event of this magnitude.

“We’re still getting names [of potential players], sponsors and

auction items ... there is definitely a lot more than what I thought

going into something like this. It’s a lot of time on the phone.”

Jefferson Lee, World Vision’s executive director for Los Angeles

and north Orange County regions, was, needless to say, thrilled to

learn of Smith’s interest in staging an event like this.

“It’s exciting to see them use their talents to help people,” Lee

said. “Baseball players are pretty classy guys.”

Lee hopes the event generates $20,000, which could be given to a

variety of areas.

As of Wednesday Smith said he hadn’t specifically determined how

the expected proceeds will be earmarked, though all money raised will

aid the relief efforts.

Lee gave examples of how funds raised could be distributed: Thirty

dollars feeds one child or adult for one month; $100 provides a

family of five with enough supplies, including tents, utensils,

tablets for drinking water, bags of rice, blankets and soap, for a

month; $20,000 would establish one children’s trauma center.

Lee said one million children are displaced in the disaster areas,

meaning they can’t find their parents.

World Vision, the largest nonprofit government organization, has

4,000 staff on-site at the disaster areas, some of whom could stay

longer than 90 days to help areas rebuild, Lee added.

Closer to home, Smith said combined help from fellow scouts and

friends putting their talents to use, has made all the difference.

“In doing something like this you ask yourself questions like,

‘What can I do to make this better?’” Smith said. “People ask, ‘What

can I do and my answer back to them is, ‘What can you do?’ Some have

connections to major league players, or the newspaper, or a food

[vendor]. I never ask anyone to do more than what they would normally

do to try and help out. I didn’t want people making phone calls if

they were uncomfortable. If everyone does a little bit, we will have

a successful event.”

Smith said he is friends with many UCI coaches and expressed his

gratitude to the university for donating the field.

Donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 5226, Irvine, 92619.