October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Astros reinforced their commitment to the cause by hosting their second fundraising event in support of victims of family violence.
The Astros Foundation Safe at Home Luncheon, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, raised approximately $350,000 for the Astros Foundation and its domestic-violence-awareness initiative. The event took place on Friday afternoon at the Union Station Lobby of Minute Maid Park.
“The intersection of using our voice to bring light to a subject such as domestic violence ... I don’t know that we could do anything better in the community than to raise awareness [about] domestic violence and promote the awareness, the education,” said Astros Foundation executive director Twila Carter. “Really, that’s what it’s all about, breaking that cycle.”
The event, emceed by AT&T SportsNet in-game reporter Julia Morales Clark, included a reception and luncheon -- followed by a live auction and style show, presented by Tootsie’s.
“Here we are at Minute Maid Park on Oct. 1, which starts Domestic Violence Awareness Month -- and we are going to give it the top priority, the top attention,” said Gloria Terry, Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) CEO. “It is an honor to be here today.”
The style show featured several wives of Astros players, coaches and staff as runway models. Player wives and family who participated included Nina Altuve and daughter Melanie, Kat Pressly and Dayara Díaz. Among the coaches’ wives were Pamela Espada, Brenda Campos Cintron, Liz Collins and Katie Bracamonte.
Staff wives included Claudia Meyer, wife of assistant athletic trainer Lee Meyer, and Geri Scarpitto, fiancé of assistant athletic trainer Jeff Lewis. The style show finale featured Carrie Strom, who was escorted by her husband and Astros pitching coach Brent Strom.
Special guest attendees included Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and HPD Assistant Chief Larry Satterwhite.
The fundraiser was a continuation of the Astros’ ongoing efforts to support victims of domestic violence -- an initiative that began in earnest in 2018. At that time, the Astros Foundation announced partnerships with the TCFV and introduced several projects to raise awareness -- including posting fliers in more than 500 bathroom stalls at Minute Maid Park that included the domestic-violence-hotline phone numbers.
They also announced donations to the Family Services of Southeast Texas, the Montgomery County Women’s Shelter, FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center, Fort Bend County Women’s Center, Daya, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) and the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC).