Correa celebrates holiday with PR charity event

HOUSTON -- In his short time in the Major Leagues, Astros All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa has been about as philanthropic as any player in the league. The 23-year-old routinely performs charitable endeavors in the regular season and offseason, typically focused around helping youth.
Correa and teammate Carlos Beltrán were front and center this summer in helping their native Puerto Rico with recovery efforts following Hurricane Maria, and this week, Correa traveled to his home island for the first time since helping the Astros win the World Series earlier this month to hold a benefit event for those in need.
Correa entertained more than 1,000 children and others in need Saturday in his hometown of Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, for a daylong charity function. Bands from Puerto Rico performed while clowns entertain, barbers gave free haircuts to kids, and food and drink were served.

Last month, Correa, with the assistance of Astros owner Jim and two Houston businesses, arranged for a cargo plane of supplies to be delivered to Puerto Rico to help with hurricane recovery. Correa has been active in Puerto Rican rescue work since Hurricane Maria tore through the island two months ago, leaving massive damage and little power, drinking water or essential services. He sent an earlier shipment of food and water, and he also ferried family members and medical patients back to the United States mainland.
"For me, it's about using this platform to be able to impact other people's lives," Correa said.
Correa has also assisted with relief efforts for Hurricane Harvey, which hit Texas in August and devastated the Houston area. He teamed with Houston Children's Charity and Texas Mattress Makers to donate 500 new beds and linens to children affected by the storm.

It has been a whirlwind year for Correa, who missed two months with a thumb injury shortly after starting in his first All-Star Game in July. He helped the Astros win their first World Series and proposed to his girlfriend, Daniella Rodriguez, on the field at Dodger Stadium in the moments immediately following the Game 7 win.
"I've taken big steps in my life," he said. It's been a great year overall -- world champions, I got engaged. It's a great year. My family is with me here in Houston. Even though we went through hurricanes, we are still standing strong. Houston is standing strong and Puerto Rico is standing strong.

"Everybody is rebuilding. It's going to be a year of giving thanks for all the blessings and all the great opportunities this year have brought for every single one of us. You pray for all those people that aren't doing so well because they're victims of the hurricane and stuff. We can find ways to help, and that's what we're going to try to do."