TIGER-CATS SERVE UP MEMORIES AT JACK ASTOR’S
Bert Faibish
Fans got a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with some of their favourite Tiger-Cats as players traded shoulder pads and helmets for drink trays and aprons at Jack Astor’s last night in Stoney Creek.
Players got the chance to serve as celebrity waiters and meet fans last night as part of the Cops and Cats charity program that benefits McMaster Children’s Hospital.
“It’s so important for us to have partners like the Ticats to create exposure and connect with people in the community,” said Parker Neale, the hospital’s Development Officer for community initiatives.
‘The Cops and Cats program itself has raised over $100,000 in the ten years it has been around,” he said.
Twelve players from the offensive side of the ball including veterans Kevin Glenn and Dave Stala and newcomers Maurice Mann and Adam Nicolson teamed up with Jack Astor’s servers and found out what it was like to wait tables for a few hours.
“I can’t believe they do this all night,” said quarterback Adam Tafralis. “I’ll be honest, it’s only been a couple of hours and my legs are tired,” he said.
Ten percent of every bill went to charity, to go along with ten dollars for the stuffed animals that were being sold by players as they served tables.
“We’ve made almost $1,000 from the stuffed animals alone tonight, so that’s great,” said Tiger-Cats Director of Community Relations, Shawn Burke.
The event comes as part of the Cops and Cats program that pits Ticat players and police officers from the area against basketball teams from local high schools as part of a charity game circuit.
This was an opportunity for a little change of pace and a chance for the charity to earn donations in a different way.
“Obviously this is a great addition to our Cops and Cats program,” said Burke. “It helps us raise a little extra money with a great partner like Jack Astor’s.”
“The guys really seem to enjoy coming out here and being waiters and doing something different,” he continued.
Charity work is nothing new to professional athletes, but these players see it as a privilege rather than a duty.
“These are exactly the types of things I do at home in the offseason so it’s kind of like continuing what I do but in a different country,” said wide receiver Arland Bruce III.
“I love my job, these are the things you get to do and it’s not just about football all the time, it’s about interacting with people that pay good money to come see you play,” he said.
Events like this don’t just help the Tiger-Cats or the Children’s Hospital but also benefit the community as a whole.
“I think the guys remember when they were kids the difference some people made as role models and they now want to be those role models and to make a real difference in Hamilton and make it a better place to live” said Burke.
