David Wright, Mets Foundation Donate $250,000 To Sandy Relief Efforts
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Third baseman David Wright and the Mets Foundation have donated $250,000 to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City in an effort to support Superstorm Sandy restoration efforts.
The six-time All-Star announced the donation intention at P.S. 38 on Staten Island, where roughly 80 percent of the students were affected by the storm.
Wright, who just signed an eight-year, $138 million contract extension with the Amazins', felt that it was his duty to help out the community.
"I love New York and it broke my heart to see the devastation throughout this city," Wright said. "I admire the thousands of New Yorkers who are courageously working hard to rebuild their homes and communities."
Wright, who grew up a Mets fan living in Norfolk, Virginia, was drafted by New York in 2001 and has played in Queens since 2004. His new contract will keep him in Flushing until 2020.
"The people of this city have supported me for the past nine years," Wright said, "and this is just a small way for me to say thanks."
Wright, who was in line to be a free agent after 2013, said that coming back to New York was a "no-brainer."
"I'm … humbled, privileged, emotional," Wright said on Wednesday at a news conference to talk about his extension, the largest in team history. "It was very important to me from Day 1 that I finish what I've started. Things haven't gone the way we would've liked them to the last couple years, but that's gonna change."
Wright batted .306 with 21 homers and 93 RBIs for the Mets last season. He is the all-time franchise leader in hits, RBIs, doubles, total bases and runs scored.
"From Day 1, the Mets fans have had my back," Wright said at the news conference. "I'm here today to promise you that I'm going to give everything I have out there to bring a championship back to Queens. I'm gonna do everything I can to get this organization back going in the direction that I think we're going."
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