Major League Baseball star Todd Helton will speak at the Trinidad State Educational Foundation annual Fun & Friendraiser dinner event entitled “Aim for the Fence” on Saturday, February 28, 2015. The Fun & Friendraiser is a social evening for the community to come enjoy a night of friends, entertainment and excitement all in support of Trinidad State.

The gala event features a reception and silent auction beginning at 6:00 p.m. as well as a limited opportunity for autographs from Mr. Helton with dinner following at 7:00 p.m. and then of course the highlight of the event, the address from honored speaker, Todd Helton.

Todd Helton played his entire 17-year career for the Colorado Rockies retiring in 2013. He is a Major League baseball icon and was a five-time All Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and three-time Gold Glove Award winner. He led the Colorado Rockies on a dramatic World Series run in 2007 and is known across Colorado and Major League Baseball as a team and clubhouse leader.

Helton holds Colorado Rockies club records for hits (2,519), home runs (369), doubles (592), walks (1,335), runs scored (1,401), RBIs (1,406), games played (2,247), total bases (4,292) and other categories. Helton hit his 2,000th career hit against the Atlanta Braves on May 19, 2009, and his 2,500th against the Cincinnati Reds on September 1, 2013.

Helton was recently honored by the Colorado Rockies when the team retired his number 17. He is the first Rockies player to have his number retired in the team's twenty-one year history. He is very active in the community and is a strong supporter of many charities, often by donating his time and efforts to support such causes as Special Olympics, Colorado Law Enforcement and Colorado Junior Sports. Helton and his family have chosen Colorado as their home and Colorado in turn has adopted him as one of its own.

“Trinidad and Las Animas County have a long baseball history with every coal camp having at least one competitive team, plus Trinidad State has a strong baseball program with last year’s team winning Region IX,” said Educational Foundation Board President Mimi Zapanti. “The TSJC Educational Foundation is so pleased to bring Todd Helton to Trinidad to share his 17-year history with the Rockies with us. Mr. Helton exemplifies all that baseball should be and we are thrilled he will be sharing it with us.”

The Fun & Friendraiser gala event is open to the public. Due to the Trinidad State athletic schedule and an anticipated larger crowd, this year’s event will be held at Trinidad High School’s Donnelly Gymnasium. 2015 marks Trinidad State’s 90th anniversary. “We are so happy to welcome Todd Helton to Trinidad as we celebrate our 90th anniversary,” said Trinidad State College President Dr. Carmen Simone. “He’s the kind of role model we hope our students will emulate as they graduate and move on with their lives.”

Tickets for the event are $75/person. Corporate sponsorship levels are also available. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, please call Linda Perry at (719) 846-5649 or Toni DeAngelis at (719) 846-5520.

The Trinidad State College Educational Foundation is a private, non-profit corporation founded in 1968 to raise and manage private gifts for TSJC. Made up of a diverse group of volunteer community members, the Foundation invites the private sector to participate in events designed to benefit the College and its students. Through the years, the Foundation has made notable contributions to student scholarships, instructional programs, professional development, building improvements, and campus beautification projects. Proceeds from the gala event benefit the Educational Foundation in its mission to support the growth and development of Trinidad State.