The boys with
all the toys

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Since 2004, the Andrew Farrell Spirit of Courage Scholarship Foundation has raised money to benefit a senior baseball player at George Washington High School.
Farrell, a 2001 Washington graduate who was a pitcher and first baseman on the school team, died of leukemia in April 2004. He was just 21 and had already suffered the loss of his mom and a younger brother from cancer.
Almost immediately, former teammates Jason Welte and Craig Mullen formed the foundation. They’ve held home run derbies and golf outings to raise money for a plaque and a $1,000 scholarship for a baseball player who exemplifies Farrell’s spirit of team, courage and determination on and off the field.
So far, there have been four scholarship winners. In addition, Farrell’s No. 25 jersey has been retired and a commemorative sign hangs in right field on Washington’s playing field.
During the holiday season, Welte and Mullen wanted to do something more with the foundation. They contacted Dr. Michele Lambert, Farrell’s oncologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, to see if the hospital would accept a contribution of toys.
CHOP, where the nurses still fondly remember Farrell, was grateful for the offer and accepted.
At Washington, vice principal Linda McGee and athletic director/baseball coach Maxi Bilkins supported the idea.
Welte, an assistant baseball coach at Washington, enlisted the help of the varsity players.
"These are a great bunch of kids, and we wanted them to realize there are less fortunate people in the world," he said.
The toy drive ran from Dec. 10 to 19. The baseball players created fliers about the charity, and the school made announcements twice a day over the public address system.
The players brought in their own presents and showed up for school before 7 a.m. to collect gifts from staff and fellow students.
"The first day, we didn’t get any toys, but the next day and the day after that we got at least fifteen toys," said senior Stan Borodyansky.
By the end of the drive, the school had collected numerous items. There were board games, puzzles, electronic games, sporting goods, Barbie dolls and much more.
The players, who were honored for their work with a pizza party, were proud that the Washington community backed their effort.
"It was the Christmas season. They were ready to give," said senior Tom Radziak.
On Friday, some of the players visited the hospital to deliver the toys to the oncology department. Also, Welte and Mullen donated $1,000 from the scholarship fund to buy more gifts. Toys R Us took 10 percent off all merchandise.
The teenagers, who also participated in the home run derbies and golf outings, were glad to take the lead to brighten the holiday of young hospital patients.
None of them knew Farrell, but they support the mission of the scholarship fund.
"When you hit the varsity level, you automatically know about the Andrew Farrell fund," said senior Eric Eder.
Washington’s baseball team is tight knit and dominated by seniors, who want juniors such as Scott Kret and Michael LaRose to take the initiative during the next holiday season.
"We hope the toy drive continues every year," Borodyansky said.
Bilkins, who coached Farrell on the JV baseball and football teams, has a plaque outside his office listing all of the past scholarship winners.
The toy drive, he said, allowed the players to get together and share in the responsibility of a major charitable effort.
"We try to do a lot of team building, and this obviously helps the team toward a unifying goal, and not just in baseball," he said. "They learned a little bit about life." ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com