Holly Springs native Paul Maholm supports community, honors mom


Thursday, September 17, 2009
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Holly Springs native Paul Maholm supports community, honors mom

Former Mississippi State standout and current Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm is in the running for a pair of prestigious community service-based Major League Baseball awards.

Maholm, a native of Holly Springs, is the Pirates’ nominee for both the 2009 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award and the Roberto Clemente Award. Both awards honor Major Leaguers for their community involvement, sportsmanship and contributions to their teams.

With his mother’s battle with cancer obviously still close to his heart, Maholm has teamed up with the Gilda’s Club -- an organization that creates a community of free support for families and friends of those living with cancer -- over the last few seasons.

“It’s a place that I wish, when my mom was going through her battle, that I had somewhere like that to go to,” Maholm said. “They give, whether it’s the patients or just the family members, a place to go and be around each other. It helps you learn to cope with it as best you can.”

This year, Maholm and his wife, Jessica, donated $25,000 to the Gilda’s Club and served as the host for the third annual “BBQ with the Bucs” dinner, an event that raised money for the organization. Maholm also has made it a priority to be a constant presence within the Gilda’s Club.

Maholm has helped cater lunches for families of those battling cancer and recently took some of his teammates to the club for a “Super Saturday,” during which the group worked out with the kids. The Maholms also host various groups from the club at PNC Park, supplying tickets and food vouchers for all.

Maholm’s involvement in the Pittsburgh community is by no means limited to his partnership with Gilda’s Club. He is a frequent volunteer at other charity initiatives and events sponsored by the Pirates.

“If another player has something going on in the community, I’m always there,” Maholm said. “If anyone asks me to go help with whatever, I’m all for it. I try to do it under the radar.”

Additionally, Maholm continues to honor his mother by staying involved in a community project that she and her friends started many years ago in Mississippi. The group, now with the help of the Maholms, help to make sure less fortunate families in Mississippi are able to have a Christmas meal and gifts.

“I don’t think I do a whole lot,” Maholm said. “But I guess in some people’s eyes it just goes a little further.”

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