One of John Moores' commitments when he took over the Padres was to be active in the community. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

With owner John Moores, the Padres are an organization dedicated to reaching out to the community, and reach out they do.

"One of the commitments that Moores made when he took over the team was to be an active participant in the community," Padres vice president of community relations Michele Anderson said. "That was true in 1995 and that is still true."

The Padres strive to not leave anyone out in their charitable efforts but concentrate their goals through three main areas: education, youth recreation and children's health.

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"I think every business, and every citizen for that matter, has an obligation to support those that are less fortunate and attempt to make the communities in which we live a better place," Moores said.

Padres Scholars was a program that was launched in 1995 and each year it targets approximately 30 students, tracking them initially in the seventh grade and then following them through the completion of high school when they are awarded with a $5,000 scholarship that has been invested and accrued interest over the six-year period.

"Our hope is to reach these kids early," Anderson said. "Help them study and learn how to work hard."

A total of 259 scholars have been through the program since '95 with over $1.375 million raised in a dollar for dollar matching system. For every dollar a Padres player puts up, the team will match.

The marquee program under the team's youth recreation pillar is Little Padres Parks, which is a construction and refurbishing initiative of youth ballfields throughout greater San Diego and the border region in Mexico.

Instituted in 1996, Little Padres Parks set out to reach a total of 60 playing fields and to date, the Padres have refurbished and/or built 22 fields with the most recent dedication being at the Marine Base at Camp Pendleton just north of San Diego.

On September 4, the Padres announced that Sefton Park in Mission Valley, home of Presidio Little League, is next on the schedule and should be completed in December.

"Sefton Park was our little gift to Mission Valley," Anderson said, referring to the Padres leaving their home of 35 years for their new downtown venue, PETCO Park.

The Cindy Matters Fund raises money and awareness for the research of pediatric oncology and that is directed to UCSD and San Diego Children's Hospital, which is one targeted program aimed at the treatment of children with cancer.

The fund is named after Cindy Matters, who first became affiliated with the Padres during her battle with inoperable colon cancer in 1996. She died in 1997 and the fund carries her name in memoriam.

"We fund research, recognize medical all-stars and reach out to children who are fighting the battle with cancer," Anderson said of the program that, in addition, honors doctors and scientists while also hosting children with cancer at Padres games. "Those are our VIP kids."

The Cindy Matters Fund has raised $750,000 to date, honored 12 medical all-stars and hosted over 70 VIP children.

"It's not just about writing checks," Anderson said. "It's about knowing the issues and being involved."

Ryan Klesko   /   OF
	Height: 6'3" Weight: 220 Bats/Throws: L/L More info: Player page Stats Splits Hit chart Padres site

There are also charitable efforts beyond the three pillars of the Padres Foundation and those include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in which outfielder Ryan Klesko has a personal involvement, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to which coach Rob Picciolo lends his time.

Each month the 65 Roses Club meets at the ballpark. It is a fundraiser and get-together, allowing children to attend games and have their pictures taken with players. Sixty-five Roses is a take on Cystic Fibrosis, which can be difficult for a child to say.

With charity recognizing no boundary, the Padres also extend their philanthropy across the border with money and donations to the Children's Hospital of Tijuana. Moores has donated in excess of $3 million to the facility.

"He, in essence, built the facility that is down there," Anderson said of Moores' efforts. "He essentially funded the new building."

In addition to Klesko and Picciolo participating in charitable efforts, Trevor Hoffman is involved with the National Kidney Foundation, Phil Nevin works with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and CaP CURE; and manager Bruce Bochy lends time to the Monarch School, where he is a member of the board and to the Alzheimer's Association and CaP CURE, the effort against prostate cancer.

"It's huge," Anderson said of the level of involvement by Padres players and other on-the-field personnel. "It's at different levels depending on where they are in their career but I'd say we get 100 percent participation."

Each year, the Padres hand out the Chairman's Award, which recognizes a player for his philanthropic involvement. The award went to Bochy in 2003, who was the first non-player to receive the honor since its inception in 1995.

Sean Burroughs   /   3B
	Height: 6'2" Weight: 200 Bats/Throws: L/R More info: Player page Stats Splits Hit chart Padres site

Other involved players include Sean Burroughs with the Burn Institute; Jake Peavy and the San Diego Blood Bank; and former Padres pitcher Jesse Orosco with the Boys and Girls Clubs.

There are also those times where a need arises and cannot be targeted in a proactive manner. It's at those moments when the Padres hope to be reactive.

In late October, wild fires raged through San Diego County, destroying over 300,000 acres, over 2,200 homes and killing 16. One fire roared through Scripps Ranch, a residential area in northeast San Diego.

The Padres, in cooperation with the city of San Diego and Wal-Mart stores set up an impromptu Halloween carnival at the Scripps Ranch Community Center to help ease the pain.

"It was in Scripps Ranch but it was extended to anyone affected by the fires," Anderson said. "There was food and games and entertainment. Some players were there and it ended up being a fun time for the kids who otherwise lost their Halloween."

The Padres, like any professional sports franchise, have a public image and they rely on the community for their support. In response, they feel the obligation to return the favor.

Top to bottom, large or small, the Padres as an organization take community to heart and endeavor to extend a helping hand.

Mike Scarr is a reporter for MLB.com. John Sandoval contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.