SAN ANTONIO - Every year, Major League Baseball (MLB) holds a winter meeting charity auction and donates all the money to a special cause.
This year the proceeds will go towards building a brand new Boys and Girls Club in Uvalde, Texas - where just more than six months ago 21 people were mercilessly killed at Robb Elementary school.
Amy Oullette, the executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Bandera County, says the importance of this is unparalleled as the community continues to heal.
“Major League Baseball has been a blessing in everything for this,” Oullette said. “The camaraderie and the attention and getting everything out and then having that option for people to be able to contribute and donate itself is amazing. A lot of times people don’t know how to donate or contribute.”
Oullette says she does not have the exact contribution from the MLB yet, but she says it is significant and at the very least more than $100,000. In the last 10 years, MLB has given more that $2 million to special causes thanks to these auctions.
She said they hope to get the Boys and Girls Club open within the next nine months. They already have a location and just need to
The Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers spearheaded the effort for Uvalde to be the beneficiary of this year’s auction.
“I don’t want to say that it took a tragedy for people to come together but they definitely are standing together after an event like that,” Oullette said. “It’s truly inspiring. I’m grateful and proud to be a part of it.”
The MLB posted this message below every auction item, ""Net proceeds of the auction will support the establishment of a new Boys & Girls Club in Uvalde, TX. MLB will be a much needed resource for Uvalde youth, and their families, as they continue to heal from the aftermath of the Robb Elementary shooting. This newly established club for the community aligns with MLB's commitment to provide physical and mental enrichment programs for young people through Boys & Girls Clubs of America."
The auction ended Thursday.