David “Big Papi” Ortiz, a ten-time All-Star and Hall of Famer, has taken his legacy off the field and refocused it on saving young lives. In 2007, he founded the David Ortiz Children’s Fund, which provides essential cardiac care and training for children in the Dominican Republic and New England who cannot afford critical heart surgeries.
In line with the Fund’s mission, children are screened, treated, and supported in partnership with hospitals such as CEDIMAT in Santo Domingo and Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. Ortiz has leveraged his platform to mobilize philanthropy—his Vintage Papi wine label raised over US $150,000 for the Fund in 2008.
Why he belongs on the Worthy 100: Ortiz has repurposed legendary athletic status into sustained impact-driven philanthropy, building a bridge from sport to service, and translating a stadium’s roar into children’s heartbeats.
