Wilson giving back to Seattle

11/16/2005
SEATTLE -- The city of Seattle and Dan Wilson have had a great relationship since 1995, when Wilson first put on a Mariners uniform and started a distinguished 11-year career that ended with his retirement last season.
When the former catcher announced in September that he wouldn't be playing anymore, he also said he would remain a Mariner and a member of the Seattle community.
"Now is my time to give back," Wilson said then, and he's already begun to fulfill that pledge.
On Saturday, Dec. 3, Wilson will make an appearance at the University Village Shopping Center near the University of Washington and sign autographs for fans who make a donation to the international agency through which Wilson and his wife, Annie, adopted two of their four children. University Village is located north of Husky Stadium just off Sand Point Way NE.
The Wilsons, who have four children -- Sofia, Josephine, Elijah and Abraham -- adopted Sofia and Abraham with the assistance of All God's Children International, a Portland, Ore.-based agency that facilitates adoptions in the United States.
When they first looked into adopting through AGC in 1995, the Wilsons were able to view photographs and videos of Sofia, who was a 6-month-old orphan in Bulgaria. They adopted Abraham, who was in Guatemala, in 2001.
"It's a group that does amazing things," Wilson said. "And the main reason it's so great is the fact that they also provide aid for orphans in countries, whether or not they're going to be adopted."
On Dec. 3, donations such as diapers, infant and toddler clothing, and toys are encouraged and cash contributions also will be accepted. All donations will provide welcome relief and comfort to children living in orphanages around the world.
Community service is nothing new for Wilson, who earlier in the season was named the Mariners organization's choice as its Roberto Clemente Award nominee. The Clemente Award, which was won by Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, honors players for their off-field charitable contributions.
"It is a big honor, obviously," Wilson said when he learned of the nomination. "It's not one of those things you have in mind when you're doing things off the field to help people. It's just nice to be able to go out in the community and help kids, especially."
In addition to being supporters of All God's Children, the Wilsons have been active with several charitable organizations, including continuing service as members of the Board of Directors of the First Place School, a Seattle-based service agency devoted to educating and nurturing children whose families struggle with the risk or reality of homelessness by offering housing, culturally relevant education and support services enabling families to achieve permanent stability.
"My wife and I have been involved in First Place School for a long time, pretty much ever since we got to Seattle," Wilson said.
"That was the first [charitable endeavor] we did. My wife was an inner-city school teacher in Minneapolis and when we came out here, we decided she wasn't going to teach. She wanted to get involved in the community in some way. We asked the Mariners and they pointed us in that direction. It has been a great relationship since, a great fit, and we have enjoyed it."
Wilson's charity work is fitting with his work ethic as a Major League player. Wilson was admired throughout baseball for being a steady presence behind the plate. That's a big reason why Wilson's retirement hit the Safeco Field faithful so hard.
Wilson, who had torn his anterior cruciate ligament in May, announced in September that he'd retire at the end of the year, but he rehabbed enough to appear in one final game. On Sept. 30, Wilson caught the first inning of the Mariners' win over the Oakland A's, hooking up with his longtime friend and battery-mate, starter Jamie Moyer, for a scoreless frame.
Wilson got three standing ovations from the crowd and a lot of hugs from teammates.
"Very few people have the sorts of career that warrant this type of treatment," Mariners manager Mike Hargrove said. "Seattle has been lucky to have a few of them. And I'm not talking about careers where they put up gaudy numbers. I'm talking about careers where you're a solid player, a winner and a good person, to boot."
Wilson will likely remain in the Mariners organization in some capacity, a proposition firmly backed by club president Chuck Armstrong, who announced Sept. 12 that there would be a "Dan Wilson Day" held next April at Safeco.
In the meantime, he'll show up from time to time to continue to give back to the community, and it'll start at University Village on Dec. 3.

Source: http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/