Dice-K Donates $1 Million Dollars To Japanese Relief
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA DONATES $1 MILLION TO JAPAN RELIEF EFFORTS
Japan native makes major donation to the Japanese Red Cross Society through the Red Sox Foundation
FORT MYERS, FL—The Red Sox announced today that the Red Sox Foundation has received $1 million from pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka to help victims of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan on March 11. 100% of these funds will be provided to the Japanese Red Cross Society to fund ongoing relief efforts.
“Our efforts on the field are dedicated to all who are suffering from this catastrophe. We are in this together, so we must overcome tragedy together.” Matsuzaka said in a videotaped message released by the Club earlier this month.
A native of Tokyo, Japan, Matsuzaka is making his donation to the Japanese Red Cross through the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox, the Red Sox Foundation. To date, the Red Sox Foundation has raised more than $1.3 million from fans, team partners and sponsors, and Red Sox players and staff, including Matsuzaka's gift and a $50,000 donation from the Red Sox Foundation. The donations will go to support the Japanese Red Cross Society's relief efforts.
Red Sox pitchers Hideki Okajima, Junichi Tazawa and Itsuki Shoda have also made personal donations to the team charity with all funds dedicated to the ongoing Japanese disaster relief efforts. Earlier this month, these pitchers joined Matsuzaka, team captain Jason Varitek and other members of the Red Sox staff to collect fan donations at the gates of two Spring Training games at City of Palms Park.
“Red Sox fans share a common language with the people of Japan through our shared love of baseball,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner. “We are grateful for the many gifts Japan has given to our team and to baseball here in the United States. We are proud of our veteran pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka who, through this extraordinary donation also shows he is a charitable champion. Our hearts and prayers go out to our friends in Japan as they struggle amid the devastation caused by this natural disaster. We are moved by the courage and resolve they are showing in the face of such enormous challenges and we are pleased to join Daisuke, Hideki, Junichi, Itsuki, our other players and partners, and the many generous fans of Red Sox Nation in offering our support at this time of great need.”
The day after the earthquake struck, the Red Sox also observed a moment of silence prior to the home game on Saturday, March 12th, to remember those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. Matsuzaka, Okajima, Tazawa and Shoda joined athletic trainers Masai Takahashi and Kazu Sakita, interpreters Jeff Cutler and Kenta Yamada, massage therapist Mitsugi Funatsu, and Japanese media liaison Mikio Yoshimura on the field during the pregame ceremony.
Fans can continue to help the victims of the disaster in Japan by making a donation to the Red Sox Foundation. To make a tax deductible donation via credit card online, log on to www.redsoxfoundation.org or by mail via check/money order. Checks should be made out to “Red Sox Foundation/Japan Relief” and sent to Red Sox Foundation, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215. One hundred percent of donations received will support the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.
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