Magic of Michael benefit offers Thunder

June 30, 2019 at 12:00a.m.

Andre Thornton will be guest speaker

POLAND

The fourth Magic of Michael Foundation golf outing and dinner is set for July 8 at the Lake Club with former Cleveland Indians first baseman-designated hitter Andre Thornton this year’s honorary guest and featured speaker.

The foundation is named in memory of Michael Hirschbeck, son of Major League umpire John and wife Denise, who passed away April 8, 2014. He was preceded in death by his older brother, John, who died at age eight in 1993.

Both Hirschbeck sons suffered from adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare neurogenetic brain disease for which there is no cure.

Upon Michael’s passing, his close friends and family came together to establish the foundation with its mission to inspire, empower and provide families enduring the ‘curve balls’ of life. Its main purpose is to financially assist families from the community and surrounding areas in Northeastern Ohio to carry on Michael’s legacy.

Children with disabilities and some that are underprivileged have already benefitted from the foundation with motorized wheelchairs, home ramp installations, purchase of service dogs, bathroom remodels to accommodate handicapped and Christmas gifts for children at Akron Children’s Hospital just a sampling of the foundation’s efforts to date.

The foundation also donates $50,000 each year to Akron Children’s Hospital in honor of their sons.

One of the most popular Indians – he broke in with the Chicago Cubs and played with the Montreal Expos prior to his arrival in Cleveland – to ever put on a uniform, Thornton was the 1979 Roberto Clemente Award (given annually to a Major League Baseball player who demonstrates sportsmanship and community involvement) winner.

He, too, has suffered tragedy and heartbreak when a 1977 automobile accident that injured him and his son, Andre, Jr., also claimed the life of his wife and three-year-old daughter.

“Since I came to the big leagues, Andre Thornton has been one of the nicest and classiest guys that I have ever met,” Hirschbeck said. “He’s always been involved in his community, is caring, an excellent speaker who loves to golf and we’re honored to have him as our featured guest and speaker.”

After his playing career, Thornton remained involved in the Cleveland community where he sits on boards of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Cleveland Zoological Society, Cuyahoga Community College Fund and Nyack College.

As a member of Leadership Cleveland and through his involvement with First Tee of Cleveland, he assists with a golf program that helps provide youth with educational programs and facilities to promote character development.

In 2007, he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame and is also a member the Minor League Reading Phillies’ Hall of Fame.

In 2010, the Indians named Thornton as a member of their “Top 100 Greatest Indians while Andre Thornton Park was dedicated on the north side of his hometown, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.

A successful businessman, he currently serves as president and CEO of ASW Global, a supply chain management company.

The golf portion of the foundation’s outing was sold out in five days and has attracted 136 golfers that will tee-off at 11 a.m.

The dinner portion of the event begins at 6 p.m. with a myriad of auction items available to those in attendance. Items range from 2019 All-Star Game tickets, a Yeti coolor, concert tickets and designer purses to jewelry, sports memorabilia and countless gift cards and baskets.

The foundation continues to work closely with the local Boys and Girls Club, United Way’s “Success After 6” program and Akron Children’s Hospital, among others.

For dinner reservations, call 330-233-4965 or e-mail magicofmichael17@gmail.com.

Further information about the event is also available by visiting the foundation’s website at www.magicofmichael.com.