L.A. Dodger Russell Martin Donates Big to the ‘One Drop Foundation’

It’s rare for me to have anything nice to say about anyone involved with MLB…but, once in a while, a player will step-up and remind me that hidden between the cracks of a tainted sport, there are a few athletes who are interested in bettering the world. And now, Los Angeles Dodger Russell Martin has landed on my radar after the two-time All-Star catcher announced he will be donating $600,000 to the One Drop Foundation.

Martin has been named spokesperson for One Drop, whose mission is to fight against poverty by providing access to water and raising awareness among individuals and communities about the need for mobilization to make safe water accessible to all.

“We take water for granted, but there are people around the world struggling to get it and that’s unacceptable to me,” said Martin. “You start making money and you can give it to wherever you want, but I wanted something close to my heart…I wanted to find something important to me. It doesn’t get more important than water, and when you think about it, some people don’t have it.”

Additionally, Martin has committed to hosting an off-season fundraiser for One Drop and is planning to make an international trip this winter on behalf of the organization that was started by Guy Laliberté, the founder of Cirque du Soleil.

According to One Drop, every eight seconds a child dies somewhere around the world from lack of drinking water and Martin has committed himself to making a difference. Current projects exist in Nicaragua and Honduras, while One Drop has also undertaken previous efforts in Africa.

For more info on Martin’s involvement, please visit his official website, Russell Martin 55.

As always, thanks for reading. Delinda@athlebrities.com