A seven-time nominee for baseball's Roberto Clemente Award for community service, Wakefield has made his greatest impact in his hometown of Melbourne, Fla., where 13 years ago he singlehandedly saved a financially failing therapeutic preschool for children, many with developmental delays.

Wakefield organized a celebrity golf event that raised $40,000, just enough to keep the Space Coast Early Intervention Center in business. Then he turned the tournament into an annual event that has since raised more than $2.5 million for the school. He also donated nearly $500,000 of his own money to the cause.

"We wouldn't be here without Tim Wakefield," said Sally Shinn, the center's executive director.

In Boston, Wakefield has donated tens of thousands of dollars to the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Franciscan Hospital for Children and has helped raise much more for the hospital and the Jimmy Fund.

"He's our key guy," said Fred Markey, the Franciscan hospital's chief development officer.

A regular visitor to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute "We can always call on him at any time," said the Jimmy Fund's Mike Andrews Wakefield also treats children from the Franciscan Hospital to visits to Fenway Park through his "Wakefield's Warriors" program.

"I was taught by my parents that it doesn't matter how big your house, how many cars you have, or how big your bank account is," Wakefield said. "What matters is whether you can make a difference in the life of a child."