Mariano Rivera as private citizen is saving much more than ballgames these days. The former Yankee and future Hall of Famer has gotten himself deeply invested in any number of charities that involve the young and the less fortunate, and is making an impact on all of them.
The latest pitch for help from Rivera came Thursday, when he, along with Joe Torre and former Jet Bart Scott, took part in Bloomberg Tradebook’s annual Charity Day, where celebrities and athletes go to the Bloomberg trading floor and spend time talking to clients on the phone to help drive up commissions for the day, all of which goes a number of charities. This year for Riviera, the charity was Ronald McDonald House.
“Anytime we can help families that are less fortunate, we should do so,” Rivera said. “The Ronald McDonald House does a tremendous job helping families to support their children but also helps parents support each other.” His celebrity status is also not lost on the charity as well.
“To have someone like Mr. Rivera be involved with us is invaluable in terms of awareness, the power of celebrity goes a long way in helping us achieve our mission,” added Natalie Greaves, Director of Communications for Ronald McDonald House of New York. “He is a hometown hero for all kids, especially kids with cancer, and his time is very important to all of us.”
Along with Rivera, the charity is also working with the Mets David Wright in building awareness and raising money.
For Mariano, the work he is doing now seems almost as gratifying as his time was on the mound. He spends his time assisting families in Westchester and The Bronx as well as in his native Panama, and has even lent his time helping to promote the new MLS team, New York City Soccer Club, as one of its ambassadors and its first season ticketholder. However Bombers fans will always remember him for his work on the mound and his demeanor off it.
As far as the Thursday went, Rivera’s efforts and those of the other celebs and athletes in attendance helped raise $1.2 million for various causes, not a bad take for a few hours’ work. Another save for the Yankee great, this time for a greater cause than the game itself.