Mets Star Lends Hand to Virginia Tech

May 24, 2007 -- David Wright is living the dream. He is a young, talented and photogenic, playing third base for a first place team in the America's media capital.

But for a few moments during the afternoon of April 16, the New York Mets superstar nearly lived out a nightmare.

Wright was in Philadelphia as the Mets prepared to play the Phillies in an early season game against a division rival. He woke up a bit late, as ballplayers tend to do before night games. He clicked on this news in his hotel room, and as he said in a recent interview with ABC News Now, "My heart just skipped a beat."

The coverage was everywhere. There had been a terrible shooting on the campus of Virginia Tech. The number killed was rising beyond 20, on its way to 32.

It was shocking news for every American who heard it that day. David Wright's thoughts immediately turned to Stephen.

Wright's younger brother wasn't just a student at Virginia Tech. He was an engineering major, and took classes in Norris Hall, the building in which most of the violence occurred. Fortunately, Wright's moment of panic was short-lived.

"I got a hold of my family pretty quickly; they let me know everything was OK," Wright recalled. "My brother contacted them earlier in the morning."

Though obviously relieved, Wright just couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. A native of Norfolk, Va., Wright knew the school and the campus very well. And he couldn't stop thinking about those who got different phone calls that day.

"You think about the brothers that can't say the same, with their younger brothers who did not make it out of there, or the fathers and the mothers," he said. "It's just a terrible thing to happen. It's something nobody should have to go through."

Wright didn't have a chance to speak to Stephen until later in the afternoon. It was then he realized just how close the tragedy was to his brother and therefore to him as well.

"He told me that he has a lot of classes in that building, and some of his classmates were in there," said Wright. "We're talking about good students that were going to further their education and going to be the future leaders of America. Going to a kid's funeral, it's just tough to put into words."

The Mets' game was rained out that night, and the next night the teams observed a moment of silence to remember the victims.

The minute you meet David Wright, you realize he is not your typical 21st century professional athlete. He looks you right in the eye. He smiles, asks you where you're from, and actually seems to care. Despite signing a six-year contract extension with the Mets last summer worth $55 million, he seems every bit the kid from Virginia. And he clearly loves the opportunities that being a star in New York affords him

"I'm trying," he said. "I have a good time with it. We have bowling, golf events, poker tournaments and things of that nature that are fun for me as well. As far as off the field, those are the perks that come with playing in New York."

Another one of those perks is a chance to make a positive impact.

"By using the New York Mets, by using the No. 5 on the back of your jersey, you can really make an impact on the community," he said. "The kids look up to you, you become a role model, and I enjoy working with the children. I realized at a young age that I can make a difference."

So it was natural that, when Wright was approached by the Manhattan chapter of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association (aka the Maroon Effect), he was happy to help. Wright pledged funds from his own nonprofit, the David Wright Foundation, and lent his name and presence to a number of events to raise money for the Virginia Tech community. The funds will help endow a living scholarship in the name of the victims.

Wright has New York in the palm of his hands. After enduring a rare hitting slump in April, he has been red hot at the plate in May with four home runs in the last four games as of this writing. The Mets took two out of three from fellow heartthrob Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees last weekend. You can't walk a block without seeing Wright's mug on a phone booth or a taxicab.

So what's wrong with being David Wright?

"You know, I have no complaints," he grudgingly admitted. "I have fun, and that's the biggest thing."

For more information about The Maroon Effect... Visit Marooneffect.org.