Former Red Sox and West Roxbury High School Graduate Manny Delcarmen Donates $15,000 to BPS' Libraries and Athletics

West Roxbury High School graduate and former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Manny Delcarmen donated $15,000 to the Boston Public Schools to specifically improve the system's library and athletics departments.

Delcarmen, who grew up in Hyde Park, offered his donation during Saturday's Double Dutch Tournament at Mildred Avenue School in Mattapan. BPS Superintendent Carol Johnson was on hand to accept the check along with School Committee member Alfreda Harris, as well as BPS Athletics Director Ken Still.

Delcarmen, who is now a member of the Colorado Rockies after Boston traded him, raised a total of $15,000 through his "Bowlin' Strikes for Schools presented by New Balance" charity bowling tournament, said a press release from BPS. This year's donation is the fourth year in a row he has donated all of the funds raised from the bowling event to the BPS.

"Despite playing for a new team, Manny hasn't forgotten where he came from," said Johnson in a press release. "We are so grateful to Manny and all of his fans who have come together each year to have a little fun and raise these funds to help improve our schools. Because of people like Manny, Boston is producing student athletes who excel in the classroom and on the field."

BPS officials said that schools will purchase books, supplies, subscriptions and other goods and services to improve their libraries with the donated funds. The athletics department has hopes to upgrade equipment, and meet requests from individual schools to increase sport programs across the district.

"There has been a lot of publicity recently about the needs of the Boston Public Schools for funding for its athletic programs," said Delcarmen. "I'm happy I'm able to bring together my family, friends and baseball fans in Boston to do our part to help out an organization that has meant so much to me."