In what is a stepping stone for even greater things to come, this past weekend The Links at Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort welcomed former MLB players from the Arizona Diamondbacks, along with staff from the D-Backs organization, to the 1st Charity Golf Tournament to benefit Esperanza para los Niños children’s home. For many of the D-Backs “alumni”, it was their first though certainly not the last time to visit the beaches of Puerto Peñasco, as all expressed their amazement with the beautiful beaches and proximity to Arizona.
On Thursday, Luis “Gonzo” Gonzalez of the Diamondbacks organization, along with Las Palomas Director Hector Vazquez del Mercado visited the facilities of Esperanza para los Niños, inviting the children to come out for the opening of the Saturday golf tournament. By Friday, Gonzalez had been joined by former MLB players Scott Hairston, Junior Spivey, Rodrigo Lopez (who is now a Spanish broadcaster for the D-Backs), Elmer Dessens, Erubiel Durazo, and Shea Hillenbrand, along with Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Butcher, Sr. Vice President of Content and Communications for the Diamondbacks, Josh Rawitch, and D-Backs Spanish Radio analyst Richard Saenz.
This first D-Backs Charity Golf Tournament gave golfers the chance to play along with some of their favorite D-Backs, take in the music and Mexican Moonshine tequila of Roger Clyne, and enjoy a great day for a good cause. During the closing awards ceremony, D-Backs representatives along with Las Palomas Director Héctor Vazquez presented Esperanza para los Niños with a check for $90,0000 pesos. The overall consensus among the D-Back golfers was that this tournament has planted a seed for even greater participation, and more fundraising efforts to come, not to mention the interest sparked after having spent some time at “Arizona’s beach.”
Among the most important needs at Esperanza para los Niños currently is that of covering electric bills, purchasing fresh food, and transportation costs – including the possibility of looking to buy a larger van to help transport the nearly 30 children between the home and school.
