Players step up to the plate for the National Kidney Foundation

METRO DETROIT — For the past several years, Vito Chirco — the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Chirco & Company — has organized a softball game to benefit a charity.

With help from local sponsors and volunteer athletes, his efforts have raised more than $30,000 for several charitable causes, including Make-A-Wish Michigan and the Pope Francis Center.

The 2023 game on the ball diamond is set for July 22. This year’s charity hits close to home for Vito and his family. As the players get ready to swing the bat, catch line-drives and more, they will be raising money for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan. Vito chose the charity this year in honor of his father, Jerome Chirco, 65, who has acute kidney failure and is currently undergoing regular dialysis treatments.

The major sponsors for the event are the Fett Family, which is sponsoring one team, and Trevor Currier Realtor, sponsoring the other team. Detroit Sports Podcast, HealthQuest Physical Therapy and Michael Smigiel & Associates also are event sponsors.

Vito hopes to raise $10,000 this year. So far, about 40 players have signed up for the sixth annual charity softball game. Several of the players have ties to De La Salle Collegiate High School, where Vito is the executive advancement assistant.

“It’s a mixture of guys with different backgrounds, and their spouses and daughters,” Vito said. “It should be a fun day. It always is. We’ve had some close games in the past.”

The charity game will be played at the Buysse Ballpark on the campus of University of Detroit Mercy, located at 4001 W. McNichols Road in Detroit. The admission fee is $40 for players and $35 for spectators. Children 12 and younger are free.

Payments in advance can be made via cash, check or Venmo @CHIRCOAND-COMPANY. Vito will have an e-card reader at the game so credit and debit cards will be accepted. Each player and spectator will be eligible to win the $500 door prize, which is presented by Signature Associates.

Vito said his dad was diagnosed with acute kidney failure last spring.

“He’s been battling it ever since,” Vito said. “He’s been undergoing dialysis three times a week. That’s the biggest challenge. It’s been tough.”

Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly.

Vito, his brother, Dominic, and mom, Liz, all of Clinton Township, have been supporting their dad. Vito not only works at De La Salle but graduated from the school in 2011. Dominic is a 2014 graduate.

Jerome said the charity games through Chirco & Company have all been his son’s initiative.

“It’s him giving back,” Jerome said. “It’s a great thing.”

While Jerome does not play in the softball games, he always attends to help with the set up. He plans to be there again this year and always enjoys the camaraderie.

“It’s competitive but in a fun way,” Jerome said.

Although undergoing his dialysis treatments for 3 1/2 hours, three days a week, Jerome said he is “more fortunate” than other dialysis patients he has met.

Jerome currently is on a kidney transplant waiting list.

For more information on the charity softball event, contact Vito Chirco at (586) 260-7419 or chircoandcompany@gmail.com. In case of inclement weather, a make-up day has been scheduled for July 23.