Carlos Correa ready to raise more than $200K for Houston Children's Charity

By: Mark Berman

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year, is preparing to help hundreds of underprivileged kids in the Houston area who are in need of beds.

Sleeping in a bed, something many people just take for granted.

Tilman Fertitta, owner, chairman and CEO of Fertitta Entertainment which includes Landry's, is also chairman of Houston Children's Charity.

"Carlos is guaranteeing that he’s going to do over $200,000 worth of beds for Houston Children’s Charity, which is just a huge amount," Fertitta said in an interview with FOX 26 Sports.

"And for a guy that’s just 21-years-old to step up to the plate like that literally, and say ‘you know what I want to be involved in this community. I want to be a part of Houston Children’s Charity. I want to make something happen. I know what it’s like for kids not to have their own beds where I come from, and for that problem to still even exist in a city like Houston, Texas.’

“We’re so impressed with him, we made him honorary chair of our gala this year in November, that we do every year, that raises over a million dollars for kids.

"We’re excited that he’s excited to be a part of Houston Children’s Charity."

Correa is equally thrilled.

"It means everything to me," Correa said. "I come from nothing.

"I know what these kids feel. It's obviously a tougher situation than mine was, but I can identify. Where you're going to work every single day, and you got to be able to man-up at a young age to get food and stuff like that.

"When (Correa's marketing director and manager) Frankie (Higginbotham) brought the subject to me I was like 'hey, let's do it, no doubt.' I want to be able to help. God blessed me with talent to be able to play this game, and I'm sure there are a lot of kids out there with plenty of talent that are not able to have a bed to rest. I want to be able to bring that, and be able to help them have a good night's sleep."

Higginbotham said Correa and Houston Children's Charity will have a news conference on March 31 in Houston to explain all of the details of the different programs they are developing to raise the funds.

Higginbotham said Correa's goal is to buy 2000 beds for Houston Children's Charity.

"We're creating a system where with Carlos' sponsors, for example, Topps, we're going to create a baseball card for the Houston Children's Charity beds program, where whoever donates $1 for every hit that he gets during the season, they will get a baseball card in return as a thank you," Higginbotham said.

"It's going to be a limited edition only (for) the people that join the club, and it's going to be exclusive to the Houston Children's Charity, and it's a donation by Topps to the program to help raise the money."

Higginbotham pointed out there will be different levels fans can join, with the lowest being $1.

Higginbotham said fans can send donations direct to Houston Children's Charity beds program/Carlos Correa, and by the end of the month, the charity's website will have full details on how to take part in the program."

Fertitta said Houston Children's Charity has been making a difference for many years, and Correa is going to make a huge difference with the charity's bed program.

"You’d be shocked, that when we bring in a mattress into some of these homes where kids are sleeping on the floor with a towel," Fertitta said. "What it means to them. We take certain things for granted in life, especially a bed. They don’t.

"What Carlos is doing is saying 'I’m going to step up and I’m going to guarantee that y’all are going to have hundreds and hundreds of beds for more kids in the city of Houston', and he’s guaranteed over $200,000 over the next 12 months himself to see that we can buy more beds for Houston Children’s Charity
that we put in the homes of kids."

Fertitta said Houston Children's Charity is honored to be associated with Correa.

"Being chairman of this charity, you’re thrilled that when somebody, who everybody’s grabbing at right now because he’s such a young superstar, when you see a young man 21-years-old, literally step up to the plate and say 'I hear you’re the best children’s charity in the city of Houston and I want to be part of it,' and we’re excited to have him a part of it," Fertitta said.

"He loves being involved in the community. At 21-years-old, he’ll probably be the youngest honorary chair ever of any charity."

And Carlos Correa is clearly ready for that responsibility as well.

Hundreds of underprivileged kids are about to benefit from the generosity of the Astros star shortstop.

www.fox26houston.com/sports/109374714-story

To make a pledge click here.