For Michael Saunders, it鈥檚 all about giving back.
The Major League Baseball outfielder, who is currently a free agent after not getting a qualifying offer from the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, will return to the halls of the school where it all began on Friday, visiting Lambrick Park Secondary.
He then becomes the focus of attention at the Lambrick Park Academy fundraiser on Friday night at Westin Bear Mountain, where locals will pay $150 a ticket for a dinner, dance, auctions and the chance to listen to the major leaguer speak.
鈥淎bsolutely,鈥� Saunders replied when asked if he was looking forward to answering the students鈥� questions during his visit. 鈥淚 was that kid back in the day. Home for me will always and forever be Victoria. I鈥檓 Canadian through and through, no matter what, even if I live in the U.S.鈥�
The event will help directors Mike Chewpoy and Rocky Vitale raise funds to offset costs for the program.
鈥淚t鈥檚 to give back to the academy,鈥� Saunders said from his home in Colorado. 鈥淯nfortunately, the academy was formed a couple years after I graduated. I would have loved to have experienced that while I was there. But every time I do come back, albeit rare unfortunately, I try to go to Lambrick and the rec centre where they train. Just come in and say hi.
鈥淐hewps approached me a couple of times about putting together a fundraiser like this. Unfortunately, the last couple of years I haven鈥檛 been able to mix it into my schedule. But, I promised him this time around, that we would get it done.鈥�
Saunders is due to arrive today and will remain in Victoria until Sunday, visiting with his dad, Derek.
鈥淚鈥檓 trying to make this a bigger trip because I haven鈥檛 been home since 2012,鈥� said Saunders who is married to Jessica and has two kids, daughter Aria, 4, and son Declan, 2. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to it. Jess asked me that and when I had a chance to take a step back, I said, 鈥榊eah, I鈥檓 really excited about it.鈥�
鈥淚 was born and raised in Victoria and still have very fond memories. My family and friends still live there, so whenever I get a chance to come back 鈥� whether I鈥檓 a Blue Jay or not, or if my career has been long gone and I鈥檓 long retired 鈥� I still want to do everything I can to give back.鈥�
That pleases Chewpoy, who says the students in the program have been like kids at Christmas time in anticipation of the special event, which still has a few tickets remaining. They can be purchased on-line or at the school.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a good night,鈥� said Chewpoy. 鈥淎nytime you can have a major leaguer come, that鈥檚 big for our guys to see him walking the hallways at our school. It gives you that mentality that anything is possible.
鈥淥ne thing I鈥檝e stressed to our guys is, to get to the big leagues is like winning a lottery, when you think about it. The thing that separates guys is being resilient and working hard. 鈥� To get there and stay as long as he has and to be in a situation where he鈥檚 going to get a long-term deal 鈥� that鈥檚 impressive and I hope our guys realize that, just how hard it is to get there and maybe they鈥檒l work that much harder.鈥�
Funds will help offset costs of trips, alleviate costs for some of the students who can鈥檛 afford the program and will also go to the Zack Downey Foundation. The latter was established two years ago after the Victoria Mariner passed away in May of 2014 battling non-Hodgkin鈥檚 lymphoma. The scholarship is awarded to students pursuing further education, who also have a passion for sports.
