Yanks host 14th annual benefit for Taylor Hooton Foundation

NEW YORK -- On Sunday, the Yankees hosted the 14th Annual Yankees Give a Hoot Benefit in one of their Yankee Stadium suites.

The benefit raised money for the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which raises awareness about performance-enhancing drugs in competitive sports. Hooton's family started the foundation 20 years ago after Taylor, 17, took his own life after using anabolic steroids.

The advisory board is made up of 38 players from across the Major Leagues. They include players such as Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Yankees catcher Jose Trevino, who has been a member dating back to his days with the Rangers. Fully endorsed by Major League Baseball, the players are participating in the THF’s 2024 public-service campaign named ALL ME. For the campaign, a print PSA featuring each of the Foundation’s Advisory Board members has been created and will be made available to each player’s respective team for its program/magazine and other team platforms for the ‘24 season. In addition, ALL-ME-themed print PSAs will appear in Major League Baseball’s League Championship Series and World Series programs.

Donald Hooton Jr., Taylor’s older brother, is thankful that the players are encouraging young people to stay away from steroids.

“The players take it seriously. This is an important issue. Our focus is on the young fans, young people and adult influencers,” Donald said. “So being able to partner with Major League players -- all 30 teams like here in New York -- we want to send a positive message that they can do anything they want in life without the use of drugs.”

And how does he think Taylor would feel about the efforts of his family to help young people?

“I think he would be looking down on us smiling right now,” Donald said. “It’s very hard to lose somebody close to you, especially the way we lost Taylor, but his legacy lives on today. I know without a shadow of a doubt, there is a young person that is sitting here at Yankee Stadium today … because of our message. While we had to lose Taylor, his legacy lives on hopefully saving lives.”

About 60 people showed up to the event and were treated to a visit from general manager Brian Cashman and Yankees legend Roy White. Cashman told them stories about being an executive for a big-market team. White, who helped the Yankees win three pennants and two World Series titles in the 1970s, signed autographs.

“I’m happy to be here. It’s the second time I’ve been to the event. I get to meet people that support the event and baseball,” White said.