(COVINGTON, La. ) — The Strikeouts for St. Jude charity is an organization run by several members of the St. Paul’s baseball community, and it is entering its third year of existence going into the 2017 SPS baseball season.

The charity was created in 2015 by Rutger Fury, Landon Waite, and Blake Locicero, three former SPS baseball players who were inspired by the humility and altruism of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This is the first season that the Wolves will manage the charity without the three founding members, but the Wolves are optimistic about the third year of the charity, now run by seniors Andy Grashoff and William Heurtin, and have set a sky-high donation goal of $6,000.

“(Fury, Waite, Locicero) have really expressed their concern for the ongoing charity” Grashoff said. “They’re open to questions and are still willing to help.”

The charity runs on a pledge system that coincides with the amount of strikeouts thrown by the varsity SPS baseball pitchers. For example, if a donor pledges 50 cents for every strikeout thrown, and the Wolves throw 180 strikeouts over the course of the 2017 season, the donor at the end of the season would write a check for $90 that goes to St. Jude.

Thanks to the donations of families in the baseball program and surrounding community, the fundraiser raised $5,810.20 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital last season. Their original goal for the season was $4,000. Strikeouts for St. Jude has since been recognized by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and an article about the charity was written on the St. Jude National website after the conclusion of last season.

“Advertising the charity and reaching our goal is going to be difficult, but it’s definitely tangible,” Grashoff said. “Last year, we partnered up with Glory Bound and Mugshots (restaurants), and they were a huge contribution to the charity, so we’re going to try to partner up with some more restaurants and businesses this year. We also plan to reach out to the parents of the baseball program and really as many members of the St. Paul’s community as possible.”

The entire St. Paul’s baseball organization asks the SPS community to consider pledging to this effort. The first game is less than two weeks away in a scrimmage against Lakeshore High on Feb. 4. To donate, either email strikeoutsforstjude@gmail.com, or ask any member of the St. Paul’s varsity baseball team about donating. Follow the charity on twitter (@SPSWSFSJ) for updates.