UH-Hilo baseball $145,000 richer

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

One thing is certain: Douglas Zimmerman and Jack Gifford are no ordinary Joe Millionaires.

The two avid baseball fans have helped the Hawai'i-Hilo baseball program raise $145,000, UHH athletic director Kathleen McNally said.

Zimmerman, father of Vulcans senior pitcher Joel Zimmerman, hit the $19 million Washington state Lotto Plus on Nov. 27, a day after his 60th birthday. The self-employed wholesaler opted for the $6.9 million lump sum payout in lieu of the $565,000 payment a year for 25 years. He then contributed $25,000 to the UHH program.

"Hawai'i-Hilo gave my son a scholarship," said the elder Zimmerman, who added he has been choosing the same lotto numbers for the past 15 years. "Knowing that I was fortunate to win the lottery, I felt it was the right thing to do."

Then in stepped Gifford, a Bay Area businessman who owns property in Kona. His company's John F. Gifford Foundation challenged UHH with a contribution of $25,000 for every $15,000 the program raised with a maximum contribution of $75,000. McNally said UHH raised nearly $70,000 — thanks in large part to Zimmerman's generosity and a $15,000 donation from Mark Drever, whose son Kevin is a freshman infielder for the Vulcans.

McNally called the donations from the parents "generous" and "phenomenal."

"Then Mr. Gifford made us the challenge," she said.

"I'm glad he's doing that," Zimmerman said of Gifford. "It's a very good gesture of him. I want to compliment him on that."

Zimmerman visited the Big Island last week to watch his son play. He saw Joel play last year when the Vulcans made trips to the West Coast. He said he has been a big baseball fan since his son started playing in youth leagues. He said he goes to Seattle Mariners games "when I have the chance."

McNally described Gifford as an avid collegiate baseball fan, who also has supported UCLA's and Santa Clara's baseball programs. Gifford has financed youth baseball clinics in Kona, receiving help from UHH baseball coach Joey Estrella.

"Joey helped him out and that's how the relationship started," McNally said.

McNally said the $145,000 is in cash and does not include scholarships and in-kind gifts. She said the money should carry the program through this season and into next season.

"Hopefully, it will stabilize us a little bit," she said. "We have to create some stability with coaching and recruitment, put something back into the program."

The Vulcans travel to Honolulu for a two-game series against UH-Manoa starting Saturday.