A note of thanks to Luis Gonzalez

Gonzo is a hero and philanthropolist. Read what the chairman and CEO of Northern Trust Bank wrote.

A note of thanks to Luis Gonzalez

Oct. 21, 2006 12:00 AM

Seven hundred homeless children became his friend on a December afternoon in 2001. As he always does, he looked softly at each of them, right in their eyes, and his heart opened up. If only for that one moment, every one of these kids felt as if they were the most special person on Earth.

He helped raise more than $1 million for Arizona Quest for Kids, a mentoring and scholarship program for underprivileged children. Dinners, luncheons, auctions; beach ball promotions with a local pool company; proceeds donated from his radio show. He never said no to any idea that helped this organization become one of the premier high school dropout-prevention programs in the state.

The last three years he has donated his suite at the ballpark to more than 100 local charities, most of which have an impact on children with challenges: Phoenix Children's Hospital, Child Crisis Center, Arizona Blind and Deaf Children, Save the Family, Whispering Hope Ranch, Epilepsy Foundation, to name just a few.

Baseballs, bats, gloves, catcher's equipment. Over 4,000 used items were collected and distributed to inner-city Little League programs in Phoenix. He was the inspiration behind the effort.

He trained for two months to run 13 miles in the 2005 PF Chang Half Marathon. More than 250 runners and walkers became part of "Team Gonzo" to raise money for more than 30 local organizations.

Hurricane Katrina devastated several Gulf Coast communities. Thousands found refuge in Veteran's Memorial Coliseum. He made a beeline to an electronics store and personally delivered an assortment of gifts to hundreds of kids.

I have had the pleasure knowing Luis Gonzalez and his family almost from the day they moved to Arizona. The aforementioned were just some of the situations in which we were involved, and just the tip of the iceberg.

Tens of thousands here in Arizona have had their lives brightened by one of the most genuine, extraordinary human beings to grace Arizona soil. He's a once-in-a lifetime guy.

Rather than mourn his departure in Arizona on and off the field we should celebrate having been beneficiaries of his good works for eight years. Thanks, Gonzo.

David Highmark, Paradise Valley


The writer is chairman and CEO of Northern Trust Bank; he founded Arizona Quest for Kids in 1999 and serves as chairman.