Hollywood stars devote time to help Children's Center

By Bob Cramer

Published: June 6, 2008

For the past eight years, actor Mark Harmon, filmmaker Frank Marshall and many of their friends have unselfishly showed that kind of devotion, raising funds for The Children's Center in Bethany.

"These are guys who could be anywhere in the world, and they choose to be here at The Children's Center with the kids and their families,” said Albert Gray, the center's chief executive officer.

Last weekend, Harmon's celebrity baseball game, bowling competition and auction raised a record $301,065 for the nonprofit pediatric hospital.

"You always think that it can't get any better, and then it does,” Gray said. During its history, the event has raised more than $1.8 million for the 120-bed facility that specializes in providing inpatient and outpatient care for children with complex medical and physical disabilities, he said.

About 2,500 fans attended the Pitch In for Kids baseball game May 31 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark to watch Harmon's Bombers play the OSSO Healthcare Network's team, the Outlaws. OSSO (Oklahoma Sports Science and Orthopaedics) is a comprehensive medical provider and a primary sponsor of the event.

The previous night, AMF Boulevard Lanes in Edmond hosted the Stars and Strikes bowling competition and the auction.

"It is so gratifying to be involved in the unique event the people at OSSO and The Children's Center organize each year,” said Harmon, star of CBS' hit show "NCIS.” "It is an honor for us to be asked to participate in a weekend that is fun for everyone and benefits the great work done at The Children's Center.”

Harmon signed autographs and posed for photos with hundreds of fans at the events.

"Mark was just relentless in signing autographs,” Gray said, noting Harmon and his team always devote time to visiting with the center's children and their families.

Marshall, who has directed or produced numerous blockbuster movies including "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” said he's already looking forward to next year's fundraiser.

"It was another wonderful weekend and an extremely successful event for all of us,” Marshall said in a statement from Tokyo. "The Bombers were again victorious, and nobody pulled a muscle or fell down. Best of all, we raised a record $301,000 for the kids at a most amazing place, The Children's Center. We can't wait until next year!”

One of the items sold at auction was a movie poster for the fourth Indiana Jones film. When Marshall, who has produced each of those films, added his autograph to the poster, it became the only one of its kind in the world— star Harrison Ford, director Steven Spielberg and writer George Lucas also had signed it.

During the auction, the poster was bought for $7,500 by an Oklahoma City attorney.

ESPN baseball analyst and 1984 National League Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe played for the Bombers, remarkable because the 51-year-old is battling colon cancer and recently underwent radiation and chemotherapy. Sutcliffe described himself as "blessed” and said the center's children are much of the reason why.

Gray said Sutcliffe told him that his desire to play in the charity game motivated his recovery from recent cancer treatments. "That's heartwarming for us. The children and staff are going to keep Rick in our prayers.”

Gray said, "The Children's Center has captured the hearts of guys like Mark, Frank and Rick. They always say the highlight of coming is being at The Children's Center with the kids and their families. That's what keeps them coming back.”

Country singer and state native Ty England and Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, a former University of Oklahoma All-American, were among the celebrities playing for the OSSO Outlaws.

Williams' Safety Net Foundation, which helps low-income single mothers in the Dallas area, gave away T-shirt jerseys at that night's Oklahoma RedHawks game.

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