Annual Ernie Camacho Education Foundation Clinic held in Salinas

The Ernie Camacho Education Foundation held its annual MLB Clinic in Salinas on Saturday.

The Ernie Camacho foundation gives out a total of six scholarships to Salinas high school students each year.

Saturday nearly 300 kids and family members came out to take notes form the pros and participate in the clinic.

Eight retired Major League Baseball players helped out with the event.

Katherine Sartain with the MLB Alumni Association says one of the most memorable parts of the day is, “We get our coaches to talk for just 10 or so minutes, to the kids about the importance of education, danger of substance abuse, also things like what it took for them to get to the big leagues. Hearing those lessons from these former MLB players really hits home for a lot of these kids.”

Ernie Camacho says while it’s fun to teach the kids skills on the field, they tach them lessons that will go far beyond that, “There is a lot of sports out there, but guess what it’ll come to an end. But your education will be there forever.”

Frank Lucido with the Camacho Foundation says, “the focus is to keep kids in school. Some schools in this area have one of the lowest High School graduation rates in the country. And those that do graduate, few go on to college.”

There are several organizations that help put this clinic on every year, Ernesto Alvero with Pinnacle Health is also on the board of the Ernie Camacho Education Foundation. He says, “our ultimate goal is to be able to provide scholarships for kids that really have a greater needs.”