Via MetsBlog.com, The New York Times follows Johan Santana to Venezuela, where among other things, he distributes Christmas presents.

He organizes the Cy Youngazo, or the Great Cy Young, where he hands out Christmas presents to children and organizes local soccer and baseball tournaments. Through his foundation, he pursues his dream of someday building a baseball stadium in Tovar specifically for children.

During this year’s event, young boys stood slack-jawed and old men whistled their appreciation as he walked by. He was continually stopped by people either asking for autographs or just wanting to shake his hand.

There have been a number of ballplayers over the years who invested their earnings to make their home towns better. I remember Fernando Valenzuela building a school in his town in Mexico. Good for Johan.