Still need plans for celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend? Pedro Martinez has you covered.
The former Red Sox ace and his wife Carolina Martinez will host their 3rd annual Feast with 45 fundraiser at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon. The festivities are shaping up to be a fun day for fans and foodies alike, featuring appearances by local sports stars like Sammy Morris and Lou Merloni, performances by a live eight-piece mariachi band and, of course, plenty of delicious bites provided by dozens of the city’s top chefs. Guests who splurge for the VIP experience will also take home a sweet swag bag, plus enjoy a private reception with the Hall of Fame pitcher.
Since there’s so much tasty food on hand from culinary stars like Andy Husbands, Jason Santos, Chris Coombs and Jen Royle—just to name a few—Carolina admits that she has a tough time choosing her favorite, must-try dish at Feast with 45.
“I’m a foodie. I love food,” Carolina says. “I usually look forward to everything because there’s so many different kinds.”
Eating all that great grub will help out a good cause, as proceeds from Feast with 45 will go to benefit the Pedro Martinez Foundation, a non-profit spearheaded by the couple that aids children and families living in poverty throughout the U.S. and Latin America. The foundation has provided help in all sorts of areas, including food, water, education, job training, sports, as well as home construction and repair. The couple has done extensive work in their native Dominican Republic, where they’ve built a community center modeled after charter schools that features everything from classrooms and a nursery to playgrounds and a computer lab.
While Pedro enjoyed a more “under the radar” lifestyle since his retirement, according to Carolina, the couple has been happy to be back in the limelight in recent years to support their foundation with events like Feast with 45.
“The fact that we’re still able to combine the chefs and food with the baseball atmosphere, I think it’s bringing a momentum for the foundation,” says Carolina, noting how the event has helped raised awareness around “what’s going on in Dominican Republic” as well as what they’re “doing and looking forward to do here in Boston.”
Looking ahead, Carolina and Pedro have big plans for their foundation, including opening a new office here in Boston, which may happen as soon as the end of May. Carolina believes the expansion into the city will lead to more connection with local educators and thought leaders who can help them hone their plans both at home and abroad.
“I think there’s great opportunity with the city of Boston,” says Carolina. “Just the fact that you have the top colleges here and can get advice on how to create curriculum that’s feasible, not too dreamy or too out there, but something we can make happen. I think there’s a lot of richness into the relationship with Boston.”
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