Our Founder:
Russell Reid Ortiz, is a former Major League baseball pitcher who has previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He and his wife, Stacy, reside in Mesa, AZ, with their children, Grace, Lilian and Hudson. He graduated from Montclair Prep High School in Van Nuys, CA. Ortiz attended the University of Oklahoma and helped the Sooners capture the 1994 College World Series Championship. He was the recipient of the Giants’ 2001 & 2007 John Hancock Roberto Clemente Award for excellence in community service. In 2002, he served as spokesperson for the YMCA’s “Building Futures” program, providing game tickets and hosting a monthly event for at-risk youth and their mentors. He supported the San Francisco Food Bank by taping a radio PSA for the organization. While with San Francisco, he participated in the Giants Wives’ post game auction and clinic to raise money for Junior Giants and Comfort for Kids, which provides medical care to children facing a life-threatening illness. Russ acted as spokesman of the 1999 Resolve To Stop The Violence (RSVP) Day and participated in the Giants’ off-season Care-A-Van, visiting youth groups, schools and hospitals throughout Northern and Central California. In 2005 Russ and his wife Stacy founded their own charity foundation to help those in need. They created programs helping underprivileged students obtain the supplies needed for school and a book program to pay for student’s books for college. In addition to theses signature programs the Ortiz family also supports other charity’s endeavors throughout the community.