Veal, a second-round pick in the June 2005 First-Year Player Draft, lost his mother to cancer in November 2004. On Nov. 10 this year, nearly three years to the day when his mother died, Veal's father was killed during a scuba diving trip.

A trust fund has been set up for Veal and his younger brother Devin, who is a freshman at the University of Arizona. Apparently, their parents did not have life insurance, and a line of credit was taken out on the family home.

Fans who would like to join the Cubs in helping the Veals can send checks payable to the Donnie and Devin Veal Trust Fund, Smith Barney/Citigroup, 701 Market Street, Suite 1500, St. Louis, Mo., 63101, Attn: Brad Rippelmeyer.

"I know that money will never bring his mom and dad back, nor will it take away the pain, but it should help relieve some of the financial burden that has been left behind," Cubs player development director Oneri Fleita said.

Cubs caravan: The rosters have been set for the Cubs Caravan, which will include two tour groups Jan. 16-17. Cubs manager Lou Piniella, coach Matt Sinatro, Ryan Theriot, Rich Hill, Carlos Marmol, Kevin Hart and Jeff Samardzija will be part of Tour One, which will make stops at Northwestern Hospital, Rupley School in Elk Grove Village, and the Masonic Temple on the first day, and at McCorkle School in Chicago, and Avalon Manor, Wood Elementary School, and the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Indiana Hammond Club in Indiana on Jan. 17.

Tour Two will include pitching coach Larry Rothschild, bench coach Alan Trammell, Geovany Soto, Tyler Colvin and Rocky Roquet for both days. It will stop at Nettelhorst Elementary School, George Washington School, and the Holiday Inn South on Jan. 16, and at Franklin Elementary, U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, and O'Brien Field and the River Plex in Peoria on the second day.

On Jan. 16, Tour Two will be joined by Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, and Tour One will include broadcasters Bob Brenly and Len Kasper. Pitcher Ted Lilly will join Tour Two on Jan. 17.

Theriot clinic: There are still openings for Theriot's Jan. 20 baseball clinic to be held in Chicago. High school players who want to polish their hitting and fielding skills can pick up some pointers at the clinic to be held at the MVP Baseball Center in Lake Forest, Ill. The cost is $100 for a two-hour session. The center is an 18,000 square foot indoor facility with several batting cages.

The clinic will include a session for players age 14-15 years old from 5-7 p.m. CT, followed by a session for players 16-18 from 7-9 p.m. For more information, call 847-281-9790, or you can go to www.prepbaseballreport.com for an entry form.

Winter League update: Felix Pie was batting .239 in 31 games for Licey in the Dominican Republic Winter League. Pie has two homers, eight doubles, one triple, 13 RBIs and six stolen bases. He's also batting .250 (9-for-36) against left-handed pitchers, compared to .233 (17-for-73) against right-handers.

Ronny Cedeno was batting .324 with 13 doubles in 44 games for Aragua in Venezuela. He's playing shortstop and center field, and has been leading off and batting third for the Tigres.

Henry Blanco, who missed most of last season because of a herniated disc in his neck, was hitting .216 in 33 games for Caracas in Venezuela.

Salute: The Pitch and Hit Club will hold its 62nd annual awards dinner on Jan. 20 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Bob Feller will headline the list of guest speakers. Tickets are $60 apiece, and a table of 10 costs $600. The Cubs' Arlene Gill, executive assistant to the president and general manager, who is retiring at the end of this year, will be honored as the Mary Francis Veeck Woman of the Year. For more information, go to pitchandhitclub.org.

Extra bases: Kosuke Fukudome was expected to come to Chicago next week to undergo his physical and finalize his contract with the team. He will likely wear No. 1 with the Cubs, although that won't be made official until his introductory news conference. Also, his name is pronounced: KOH-skay foo-koo-DOUGH-may. ... The Cubs have agreed to player development extensions with all five of their Minor League affiliates. Triple-A Iowa, Double-A Tennessee, Class A Daytona and Class A Peoria each reached four-year contract extensions through the 2012 campaign. Short-season Class A Boise reached a two-year extension through 2010. ... Congratulations to assistant athletic trainer Ed Halbur and wife Sara on the birth of Addison Elizabeth on Saturdy in Des Moines. Addison checked in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces.