Costco Connection

CONTINUED FROM

Edgar
Martinez

with his wife, Holli’s, includes giving time and resources to Seattle’s Children’s Hospital and United Way, among many others. Martinez was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise, Idaho, in 2007.

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The Martinez Foundation

P.O. Box 50270 Bellevue, WA 98015

After his retirement in 2004, he and Holli went back to college to finish their degrees and realized a great need.

(425) 614-8585

www.themartinez

foundation.org info@themartinez

foundation.org

IN A DECISIVE GAME five in the 1995 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, Edgar Martinez came to the plate with his Seattle Mariners down 5–4 in the bottom of the 11th inning. It was do-or-die time. As he had done so many times before in his 18-year career, Martinez smacked a two-run double, sending the Mariners to their first American League Championship Series. Many Mariner fans credit that hit with saving baseball in Seattle.

“If you don’t have access to an equitable education, the chances you have in life aren’t equitable either,” explains Edgar. “Students of color are not graduating at the same rate as white students.”

VANHOU TEN PHOTOGRAPH Y, INC.

But Edgar Martinez is a hero in Seattle for his off-the-field activities as much as his on-field play. His commitment to the community, along

They formed The Martinez Foundation, which endows fellows from underprivileged backgrounds to pursue educational training, and give back to communities like the ones from which they came, as teachers.

One hundred percent of donations ($800,000 so far) go to the scholarships. “We keep our overhead so low,” observes Holli.

DAN DELONG/RED BOX PIC TURES

The Connection interviewed the Martinezes at their home and asked if they have offices. Holli says, “My dining

room table. I don’t feel comfort-

Edgar and Holli Martinez (center) talk with Martinez Foundation fellows (from left) Marina Pita, Carlito Umali and Monico DeLeon.

able with the foundation spending money on office space, so I want to make sure that we’re conservative and careful fiscally.” C

K RISTI YAMAGUCHI HITthe the national stage at the age of 20, taking the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. Embarking on a professional career, she quickly discovered that fame meant more than simply making a lot of money.

Kristi
Yamaguchi

“[I] saw the need that was out there and that I had the ability to make a difference,” she says.

than $5 million to date, is looking to grow. “We”retryingtohaveourownmissionthat we can put our own funds into,” she explains.

In 1996 she started the Always Dream Foundation. “If there’s a need or an organization that hits close to home, then we’ll definitely help them out,” states Yamaguchi. The foundation has purchased computers for schools, provided shopping sprees for underprivileged children to purchase back-to-school clothing, organized holiday parties for children’s shelters and more. “For the past 14 or 15 years we’ve supported a lot of different organizations,” she says.

“A hundred years from now, I”m hoping my philanthropic work will be a standing legacy,” she says. “And I”m hoping that my childrenwillfinditintheirheartstobeapart of it and take it over and continue on.” C

Always Dream
Foundation
1203 Preservation Park Way,
Suite 102, Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 451-7275
www.alwaysdream.org
info@alwaysdream.org

“Our biggest project [for which they raised $800,000] was building the Always Dream Play Park, which is based in Fremont, [California,] my hometown,” she proudly proclaims. “We built a park for kids of all abilities. So whether you’re able-bodied or a child with disabilities, you can play side by side on the same equipment in the same playground.”