David Ortiz - a sand version, anyway - is a hit at the mall
While thousands of fans pack Fenway Park this week to watch their beloved Red Sox team take on the Angels in the playoffs, David Ortiz will be busy posing for pictures at the Square One Mall.
Fret not, loyal Sox faithful. Ortiz is healthy and sure to be in manager Terry Francona's lineup to terrify opposing pitchers.
This Ortiz is not the actual slugger, but rather a life-size sand sculpture crafted by Sean Fitzpatrick as part of a fundraiser to benefit the Jimmy Fund.
Fitzpatrick, a professional sand sculptor who owns Fitzy Snowman Sculpting, has once again put his considerable skills to use for an excellent cause.
When he turned 40 last year, Fitzpatrick vowed to use his talent as a sculptor to organize at least one big fundraiser each year for the Jimmy Fund.
Like millions of other Americans, Fitzpatrick knows firsthand how devastating cancer can be. His father Paul passed away from a rare form of Hodgkin's disease when he was only 39.
<p style="text-indent: 0in;"> Fitzpatrick first hooked up with the Jimmy Fund last year when he unveiled a giant sculpture of Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek at his Adams Avenue home. All proceeds from the community fundraiser - a whopping $5,000 - went to the Jimmy Fund to help find a cure for cancer.
The event was such a success that Fitzpatrick decided to organize another fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund. He chose Ortiz as a subject because of the slugger's strong track record of supporting charitable purposes.
"Big Papi has always been one of my favorite players, not only for his accomplishments on the diamond but for what he's done off the field," Fitzpatrick said. "He's involved in a lot of charities and I admire how he goes about it in a quiet, unassuming way without trying to draw attention to himself."
On display until Oct. 15
On Sept. 24 Fitzpatrick hauled in 10 tons of sand to the Square One Mall to use as a base for his latest work. He spent the next week molding the sand until an 8-foot-tall replica of Ortiz materialized.
Fitzpatrick was still putting the finishing touches on the Ortiz sculpture minutes before he unveiled it at a Sept. 30 party to benefit the Jimmy Fund, which he called Carving for a Cure. Guests stopped by throughout the night to admire the work and enjoyed plenty of food, games, music and door prizes provided by sponsors.
The sculpture will remain standing on the first floor of the Square One Mall near Macy's until Oct. 15. Fitzpatrick encouraged residents to visit the display to take a picture with Ortiz and make a donation to the collection box for the Jimmy Fund.
Fitzpatrick hopes to raise between $10,000 and $20,000 for the Jimmy Fund this time around. Whether or not this goal is achieved depends on the generosity of others, Fitzpatrick noted.
"It's the perfect time of year to support two teams - the Red Sox in the playoffs and the Jimmy Fund through a donation," Fitzpatrick said. "Please don't squander this opportunity to help out a really wonderful cause."