Back to News

O' Night Divine Christmas Celebration Third-annual event rings in holiday 12.15.07

By Anna Jones

At times, Albert Pujols might seem a bit more comfortable at the plate than behind a microphone. But amid a swirling snowstorm on a frigid December night, the Cardinals' slugger spoke from his heart for awhile about his faith and Foundation, surprising some and touching many of the 400+ who braved conditions to attend the Pujols Family Foundation's O' Night Divine Christmas Celebration.

"Albert is so charismatic in a unique way when he presents his heart for the work of the Foundation," says Rick Horton, a Cardinals' broadcaster and former pitcher who served as emcee for the December 15th dinner event. "Albert's expression of his heart for not only the people of the Dominican Republic, but for those with special needs, clearly has a depth that goes beyond hitting the baseball 400 feet."

The 3rd Annual event, held at the Crowne Plaza in Clayton, included a five-course dinner, music by The ALTeration Band and live and silent auctions with a myriad of amazing items, baseball-related and beyond.

But the most memorable portion may have come when Albert and wife, Deidre, shared their visions and goals for the Foundation for 2008.
Among them:

1. To make St. Louis the best place in the world for those who have Down syndrome through ongoing special events and programs.
2. To make a second medical missions trip to the Dominican Republic in February, this time providing eye care for children with the help of optometrists from The Clarkson Eyecare Foundation.
3. To launch a program in the Dominican Republic that addresses the needs of the family unit, rather than just the children.

In January 2007, the Foundation made it's first medical missions trip when a group of St. Louis area dentists provided dental care to more than 800 children in the Dominican. Pediatric dentist Dr. Homer Sedighi planned and coordinated the team of dentists. Albert, Deidre and PFF Executive Director Todd Perry presented him with the 2007 PFF Partner of the Year honor at the dinner.

"There were so many highlights of the evening, but the highlight for me was when (Dr. Sedighi) spoke," says Horton, who saw first-hand the poverty of the Dominican when he played a season of Winter League ball early in his career. "For him to really capture the heart behind Albert and Dee Dee's work was very profound."

AJ, the Auction and Remembering a Lost Son

Among notable items available at the silent auction were a ball cap, batting gloves and a bat that were all game-used and autographed by Albert. An autographed World Series base and a baseball were also eye-catching.

Live auction items included a B.B. King autographed guitar with floor-seat tickets and backstage passes to his concert, as well as a 3D image of Albert holding real bat, a Tom Brady signed jersey and 1-year leases of a BMW and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Deidre even offered her cooking services for six at someone's house. The winning bid was $1,700, and then another guest offered an additional $2,000 if she would come and prepare a dinner for them also.

Even AJ Pujols, Albert and Deidre's 6-year-old son, got into the auction action and began bidding on a Golden Doodle puppy … and to Deidre's surprise, he won!

Among those who saw it unfold were Doris and Ken Frizzell, special guests of the Pujols' family. They had first traveled from Murfreesboro, Tennessee to St. Louis to meet Albert and Deidre in July after their 16-year-old son, Jordan Henderson, had been killed in a car accident. Following the accident, the family had found a newspaper article in Jordan's wallet that featured Albert Pujols with a prayer that he lives by: "Please come into my life right now, Lord," part of the prayer said. "Help me to follow you always." That prayer touched the whole community, as well Albert and Deidre, who have since come to know the family. And by the Christmas Celebration evening's end, Deidre had given the little puppy, now known as "AJ", to the Frizzells.

"This athlete and his family are just some of the best people in the world," Doris told The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro. She added that she hopes to make the dinner an annual event for her family and others in their community.

Mystery Autographs

The alcohol-free evening had a number of unique touches, including table centerpieces that included an encased autographed baseball. Of the 100 centerpieces, 15 had balls signed by Hall of Famers, including Warren Spahn, Bob Gibson and Ozzie Smith, with 2 more signed by Albert. For $100, guests could buy the centerpiece. But the catch: Guests didn't know whose signature was on the ball until after they purchased it.

Among local notables in attendance were current Cardinals Jason Isringhausen, Chris Duncan and Tyler Johnson, as well as Lou and Jacqueline Brock, Adam Timmerman, Jack Clark, Al Hrabosky and Mickey Carroll.

Albert also did his best to visit with as many guests as he could. And everyone who came received a goodie bag that included an 11x14 original Todd Perry print autographed by Albert and a 45-minute video of the 2007 mission trip to the Dominican that aired on Fox Sports Net.

By evening's end, despite the snow and worsening weather conditions, approximately $80,000 had been raised through the auctions and pledges for the upcoming mission trip.

Among the MVP sponsors for the night were BryanMark Financial Group, Ylang Ylang, Southtown Dodge and South County Chrysler Jeep. Other sponsors included Eagle Bank, Edward Jones, Richman Homes and Dunajcik Realty. In all, about two dozen sponsors, along with many volunteers from groups such as Mercy Ministries, helped make the evening possible.

"With only two full-time staff members … realistically we should not be able to do what we do, and we realize that," says PFF Program Director Jen Cooper. "But we know it's not us. We know that the Lord has blessed us, not only financially but with time and great volunteers and great partners and great sponsors."

Click here for photo slideshow.