Toronto FC proudly announced Thursday that the game worn and autographed boots donated for auction by forward Danny Dichio were sold after a winning bid of $13,000. All monies raised were for the purchase of new equipment for children at Bloorview Kids Rehab, the largest rehabilitation hospital in Canada.
Steven Staltare of Lutz, Florida was the winning bidder, but there's a little more to the story. A good friend of his, Robert Stevens of Toronto was already heavily involved in the bidding, but was called away on business. Robert asked if Steven could help him out by keeping an eye on what was going on - so he wouldn't lose the boots. Unable to reach him as the bidding increased, Steven kept at it until the auction was closed, resulting in a final total of $13,000.</p>
"There were two reasons for the bidding on Dannys boots," said Stevens. "The first reason having visited the hospital and seen first hand the work and effort of all the staff and everyone concerned, it is genuinely a very humbling and inspiring experience. The second reason was Danny himself. As someone having only been in Toronto for such a short time, the people and especially the fans of TFC have taken him to their hearts, which is a great credit to him as a person and as a representative of the club itself on and off the pitch."</p>
"This wonderful gift from Danny will have an amazing impact at Bloorview Kids Rehab," said Rakesh Tripathi, Development Officer, Bloorview Kids Rehab. "We offer sports and recreation camps during summer and March break for our kids. Sledge hockey training and wheelchair skills camps ready participants for a lifetime of physical activity that provides innumerable therapeutic benefits and combats isolation by getting children involved in team sports."</p>
"I was flabbergasted to be honest," said Dichio. "The boys were high-fiving me saying wow, your boots have gone for that much, but I have a list of what they could get for the kids and how much everything costs - but I couldn't really get them much equipment, for 13 hundred, 14 hundred dollars, but with $13,000 I know that I can get them something solid that will help a lot of kids. This money will hopefully help a lot of kids for a long, long time." </p>
Also included in the package with Dichio's autographed boots from the game on May 12th in which he scored the team's first ever goal will be a certificate of authenticity, as well as an autographed seat cushion from that historic day.
