Jorge Posada, the all star catcher for the New York Yankees, started the Jorge Posada Foundation after his and his wife’s son Jorge Luis was diagnosed with craniosynostosis 10 days after being born. Craniosynostosis is a dangerous congenital defect of the skull, and it took eight major surgeries to correct it.

The boy survived and is about to celebrate his 11th birthday.

One in every 2,000 babies is diagnosed with a potentially devastating condition known as craniosynostosis. Left untreated, it can lead to seizures, eye problems and various neurological and developmental damage. Treatment usually requires multiple major surgeries.

To the gratitude of thousands of families everywhere, Jorge Posada Foundation exists as an offensive against the condition. Posada is preparing to host a bowling tournament fundraiser, which is running in conjunction with an online auction.

We recently talked with Posada about craniosynostosis and what he’s doing to help those who have to deal with it.

What was the inspiration behind the Jorge Posada Foundation?

At just 10 days old [my son] Jorge Luis was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis, a condition in which sutures in an infant’s skull prematurely fuse. This results in restricted skull and brain growth. Because the brain cannot expand, it often results in abnormal head shape and facial features as well as other long-term neurological and cognitive affects.

Jorge Luis underwent eight major surgeries to correct the condition. We strongly believe that Laura and I were touched by Craniosynostosis so that we could make a difference in the lives of others dealing with this condition.

What is your vision for the Foundation, and how do you go about pursuing that?

The purpose of The Jorge Posada Foundation is to reach out to families in need, whose children are affected by Craniosynostosis, and provide them with emotional support through its network; and financial assistance to help with the costs of initial surgeries. The Foundation also strives to create awareness about the condition through events and other educational outreach efforts.

When did you begin the foundation?

Jorge Luis had his first surgery in 2001, so just about nine years ago.

Where is the foundation based?

The foundation is based in New York City. We also have a headquarters in Puerto Rico and are considering establishing an additional headquarters in South Florida.

What is the Celebrity Basebowl Tournament? How did it begin? And how did the auction begin?

Laura and I wanted to create an event that was inviting to both adults and children. I have always been interested in bowling, so it seemed like a great idea. The online auction is actually a joint venture with Charity Buzz, a company that helps charities to raise money. We thought it would be a good way to get more interest from families and expand our appeal.

How did you get the support of the celebrities you have, such as Connolly, McGraw, Cher, Lopez and Blake?

Most of them were original supporters of the cause, and had an interest in our mission. Everyone else was more than happy to help once we asked.

How much money do you hope to raise with the auction?

We are on target to raise more than $500,000 this year.

How expensive is it to treat craniosynostosis?

It’s case-by-case, but it is costly as the disease requires reconstructive surgeries that are usually performed by teams of doctors.

How many families and children have you helped since beginning the foundation?

The foundation has helped thousands of families. From raising awareness, creating support networks and our mentor program, we feel we are doing everything we can, but we want to do more.

The Celebrity Basebowl Tournament Auction features donations from celebrities including Kevin Connolly, Tim McGraw, Cher, George Lopez and James Blake, among others. Bidding opened Oct. 27 and will close Nov. 17. Among the items up for bid are trips to Disneyland, walk-on roles on Entourage, a Taylor guitar signed by McGraw, trip by private jet to a 2011 Yankees-Red Sox game, and more.