News
Hudsons reach out with new foundation
Group helps kids with medical, emotional or financial need
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
11/18/09 11:38 PM EST
ATLANTA -- Through their many charitable endeavors, Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and his wife, Kim, have often encountered a child who touches their hearts and provides a reminder of the many blessings they've received.One of those kids is Ashley Wagner, an 11-year-old from the Atlanta area who five years ago was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor. During her long stay in the hospital, she found herself inspired by the words of Joe Nichols' "If Nobody Believed in You."
Through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Wagner had the chance to meet Nichols. This weekend the Hudsons are going to provide her with the opportunity to meet Blake Shelton, who, like Nichols, is a country singer.
"She's just one of those kids that draws your attention, and whenever there is something I think she'd like to do, I try to get her involved," said Kim, who met Wagner when the girl sang a Nichols song during a Make-a-Wish board meeting two years ago.
For the first big fund-raiser of the newly formed Hudson Family Foundation, the Hudsons are hosting a country-music concert on Saturday night at the Fred Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City, Ga. Shelton will headline the event, which will also include a performance by Josh Gracin.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, and all proceeds will go to the Hudson Family Foundation, which was formed with the mission of making a positive and long-lasting impact in the lives of children who have a genuine need for assistance with regard to a specific physical, emotional or financial circumstance. The foundation has already drawn requests for financial assistance from 33 charitable organizations.
On Wednesday afternoon, as she and Tim collected auction items and took care of last-minute details for the event, Kim found herself fighting back tears.
"I stopped myself and thought about Ashley and what she's going to do when she meets Blake," she said. "This is why we do what we do."
The Hudsons have been involved with the Make-a-Wish Foundation since Tim began his career with the A's and have more recently become involved with the AFLAC Cancer Center.
Though they plan to remain committed to these programs, they want the Foundation to also assist lesser-recognized charities. Among those that have sought help is one that knits hats and blankets for babies born into low-income families.
Tim, who recently signed a contract extension that will keep him in Atlanta for at least three more seasons, has been nominated for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award each of the past four years and a total of eight times during his career.
Whenever he talks about his charitable endeavors, he credits his wife's devotion and talks about the joy he receives whenever he gets the sense that he has been able to help sick children and their parents get through something he knows that he can't truly understand.
"When you go home, look at your children and see how healthy they are, it reminds you how lucky you are," he said. "It's pretty hard to comprehend some of things some of these kids are having to deal with. It feels good to just contribute to their lives in some way."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
