Texas to host second Do It For Durrett Benefit
ARLINGTON -- Last year, the inaugural Do It For Durrett Benefit raised about $200,000 in one night for the family of Richard Durrett, a longtime Dallas sports writer who died of a brain aneurysm at 38 on June 17, 2014.
After the dust settled, the event's leaders had an idea: What if they did it again?
Thus was the genesis of Do It For Durrett '80s Night sponsored by Summer Energy, set for July 9 at 7 p.m. CT at Cholula Porch at Globe Life Park. The event, which will feature entertainment, food and auctions, will benefit the family of Jason Dugger, a former Dallas Morning News writer who died last year at 41, leaving behind a wife and two sons.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels was the first to bring up the idea of creating a yearly event, and Do It For Durrett became a registered nonprofit with the goal of helping families impacted by sudden loss.
"Losing Richard was a tragedy, and it hit close to home for so many of us," Daniels said. "Finding a way to help other families in similar situations is something we felt strongly about and something we know Richard would want us to do."
When the idea was presented to Richard's wife, Kelly Durrett, she loved it. But she made clear she had already been the recipient of enough generosity. She wanted to make it a night that could help someone else.
Anthony Andro, who covers the Rangers for FOX Sports Southwest and serves as Do it for Durrett's media spokesperson, said that is an honest reflection of Durrett's memory.
"Richard was always trying to help people," Andro said. "That was the one character trait that Richard had that I think we all wished we had. He would help a stranger. He would help a coworker. He would help a competitor. It didn't matter. That's what separated Richard from everyone else we knew, so it just made sense if we could help somebody else."
Do It For Durrett '80s night will feature on-stage performances from county music star Casey Donahew, Rangers players such as Elvis Andrus and live, silent and date auctions.
Andrus and Rangers pitcher Derek Holland, as well as Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons, will auction themselves off for dates.
The live and silent auctions include the chance for activities such as sitting courtside with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and a host of memorabilia from across Major League Baseball.
"I think we had every Major League team contribute something last year," Andro said. "It speaks to Richard. … When the Yankees are sending you an autographed Derek Jeter bat, you're like, 'Wow, that's pretty cool.'"
In addition to hosting the event at Globe Life Park, the Rangers are highly involved in all of the organizing aspects of Do It For Durrett.
"The Rangers have just been so supportive from top to bottom," said Emily Jones, an FSSW reporter and Do It For Durrett Foundation president. "[Rangers assistant vice president] Taunee Taylor and her staff know how to put on events like this, and we really don't, so their help and guidance along the way has really, really, helped."
Tickets, which are close to sold out, start at $40 for reserved general admission, which includes an event T-shirt and dinner. Tables of eight are available for $300, and a $100 VIP ticket includes access to a VIP pre-party, VIP seating, dinner, a T-shirt and drink tickets.
Tickets for Do It For Durrett 80's Night are on sale at doitfordurrett.com/shop.