RakeFight

May 21st, 2012 at 2:34 PM ^

Too bad the title of the article misses one of the most important (and touching) details of the story... he didn't donate it to a patient, he donated it to the patient's brother (ok, her family).

As someone who takes care of kids with chronic and sometimes life-threatening/ending illnesses, it's really moving to see someone recognize the impact that these situations have on the affected kids' siblings... these are also kids that are struggling with dealing with the suffering of their brother or sister... experiencing loss, helplessness, and often a sense of neglect because so much attention is focused on their sibling.  Good for Matt!

Sione's Flow

May 21st, 2012 at 2:45 PM ^

Mr. Stafford, you are indeed a class act.  Hats off to him for donating to a charity that is not associated with his own university.  But I'd have to think that Mike Martin, Junior Hemmingway, or any other UM alum would do the same thing for charities in the areas around their respective clubs too.

 

WeisstheHutt

May 21st, 2012 at 2:54 PM ^

I was at this event  and this was a really nice moment when he did this.  Historically this has mostly involved athletes with a direct U of M connection so that it was great both that he was there and that he did this for this family. 

Coach Hoke was present and actually returned for this event even when he was coach at San Diego State.

Gorgeous Al was there but I did not get a chance to ask him about the bubble screen.

 

Vivz

May 21st, 2012 at 4:14 PM ^

He had donated the package himself to begin with (so he was already helping out Motts) and then decided to buy it back to donate again.

Great story.

The FannMan

May 21st, 2012 at 7:06 PM ^

Hutchinson's take sums it up best: The guy had no connection to Michigan at all.  He could have easily pased on going to the event.  The fact that he even showed up and gave that prize to the auction was above the call of duty.  Then he bids up the auction, scracthes out a 15K check and gives the prize to the family? That is incredible.  

The FannMan

May 21st, 2012 at 7:09 PM ^

Hutchinson's take sums it up best: The guy had no connection to Michigan at all.  He could have easily pased on going to the event.  The fact that he even showed up and gave that prize to the auction was above the call of duty.  Then he bids up the auction, scracthes out a 15K check and gives the prize to the family? That is incredible.  

schmakj

May 21st, 2012 at 8:01 PM ^

For general information for people who may not be familiar, the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital was named after Charles Stewart Mott.

Hospital administration tries to stress the point that the hospital be referred to in short hand as:

  • Mott
  • C.S. Mott
  • C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
  • Mott Children's Hospital

In sports terms, it would be seen as a faux paus to refer to Fords Field, Yosts Field House or Michigans Stadium.

Just an FYI!

schmakj

May 21st, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^

...perhaps you hit the nail on the head.

I would imagine that if I had done a lot of great things, like being:

  • an automotive engineer who was an "original partner in the creation of the General Motors Corporation"
  • elected twice as Mayor of Flint in the 1910s
  • a head of a foundation which donated $6.5 million to create a children's hospital at U of M in the 1960s
  • the namesake of a foundation which posthumously donated $25 million to create a massive expansion to this, one of the best children's hospitals in the nation...

I might not want my name confused with a fruit juice and apple sauce company.