Meeting Up With Philadelphia Flyers’ Claude Giroux

Every year for the past three years now I have donated a piece of art to The Salt Shaker Foundation’s annual fundraiser. As part of Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong foundation, Salt Shaker helps to raise money throughout the year for cancer research. This year marked the 7th year of the event which was held this past Saturday April 28th.

Last year I donated a 22×28 canvas of my Phillies Roy Halladay and although I was happy it sold for almost $300, I was a bit disappointed it did not sell for more given it was for such a good cause.

This year I wanted to raise the bar a bit so I decided to donate a 22×28 canvas of my Philadelphia Flyers’ Claude Giroux painting, only this time I decided to pull a few strings to get it autographed. I called my friend, former Flyer and current assistant coach of the Flyers’s farm team affiliate the Phantoms Riley Cote and asked if he could help out which he generously did.

I met up with Riley and Claude at the Flyers’ practice facility in Voorhees NJ prior to the start of their second round series against the New Jersey Devils.

As can be expected, the painting was very well received at the event and wound up selling for $520 making it the highest paid item in the silent auction which included an autographed James Van Riemsdyk jersey.

What was most interesting while being a little disappointing at the same time was that once the auction had ended, someone then bought the painting off of the auction winner for a whopping $700! I say “disappointing” because it would have been nice if that additional $180 had gone to the charity and not into someone’s pocket. When I saw him walking through the crowd with the painting, I congratulated him on winning it and thanked him for bidding. He then informed me that he was not winner and that he bought it off of the actual winner. He said he bought it for his son who was a huge Giroux fan and “would have paid more”.

Not sure why he did not just bid that in the first place but I am grateful that someone would think that much of my work… of course the autograph helps.

I just want to thank both Riley Cote and Claude Giroux for their time and generosity. Might seem like a little gesture but it made a big difference for a great cause.

I also want to thank The Salt Shaker foundation for all their hard work and for giving me a full page, full color advertisement on the inside cover flap of their ad book.

Already looking forward to next year’s event.