Padres donate to help homeless people

The San Diego Padres earned some extra income by playing some extra games last year, and recently they decided to do something extra for organizations helping homeless people.

The players donated their share of money from broadcast revenue and gate sales to the Monarch School for homeless children and the San Diego Rescue Mission, which each received about $76,000.

Checks were presented to the organizations on Feb. 3 as part of the team’s community tour, when players paid surprise visits to schools, fire and police departments, hospitals, a military base and other places.

“To me, it is an example of a team that not only wants to win baseball games, but they want to have an impact on life,” said Donnie Dee, president and CEO of the San Diego Rescue Mission.

Dee said the Rescue Mission considers the Padres a partner, with some players even participating in outreach efforts, meeting with homeless people on Imperial Avenue in downtown San Diego.

Pitcher Craig Stammen was a frequent volunteer, Dee said, and other current and former team members included Jorge Alfaro, Sean Manaea, Nick Martinez, Nabil Crismatt, Mark Melancon and former manager Jayce Tingler.

Elizabeth Pennington, vice president of philanthropy at the Monarch School, said the school considers the team a partner.

“We were just so grateful and surprised,” she said about the donation. “They’re wonderful partners and help us out in so many different ways.”

Pennington said players take students on back-to-school shopping trips to pick up new clothes, backpacks, shoes and other items. Player Josh Hader and his wife, Maria, have brought students a truck-full and car-full of items, and the team’s Pad Squad, the team’s ambassadors, host an annual holiday party at the school, he said.