Richie Gives Back

If you ever played high school sports, you know the feeling. You still can remember your uniform number, the names of all your teammates, the thrill of the big victory or the pain of the playoff loss. No matter where life takes you, the connection to your high school sports is both unbreakable and irreplaceable.

For Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, the pull of that decades-ago experience was enough to get him back involved with his former high school, where as a junior, he once helped Woodbridge High win a Group 4 State title.

"I had a lot of fun in high school and look fondly at those days and high school athletics," Sambora said recently by phone. "What I learned has touched me for the rest of my life. It even helped me in the band. We all have a role to play. We all protect the quarterback."

Jon Bon Jovi, who is busy these days promoting a new album "The Circle," might be the quarterback of the band, but Sambora is the MVP for a young lady from Woodbridge.

Recently, Sambora called on his athletic roots and donated the money to rebuild Woodbridge High’s ancient weight room, a new facility he named in memory of his deceased father.

Then Sambora turned that connection into something even bigger, something to help a young girl in need of medical, financial and community support.

After reconnecting with Woodbridge, he learned about the plight of Kelly Mahon. Mahon was diagnosed with a brain tumor during her senior year of high school and two years later, she remains hospitalized.

Sambora initiated a fund-raising drive that has raised more than $75,000 so far. The drive continues in the hope of renovating the family’s house so that Kelly can go home. That is the inspiration for the Web site www.youcangohome.com, where fund-raising information can be found.

"That’s my alma mater — I felt I had to do something," Sambora said.

"It’s really about involving kids and anybody. Wherever you are, you can go back to the community and help."

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Help Richie give back. Visit You Can Go Home to find out more.

~ Hath