|
Major League Baseball Players Donate $250,000 to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Contribution from the Major League Baseball Players Trust is earmarked for construction of a Baseball Academy at the Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center
LaTroy Hawkins, Ryan Howard & Derek Jeter to participate in presentation during the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's 7th Annual Legacy Awards Program
NEW YORK, Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Major League baseball players today announced that the Major League Baseball Players Trust is awarding a grant of $250,000 to the national Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, located in Kansas City, MO. The grant will aid in construction of a Baseball Academy to teach baseball skills to inner city youth at the Museum's planned Buck O'Neil Education and Research Center.
"It is a privilege to honor the legacy of Buck O'Neil and other Negro Leaguers with a grant to provide opportunities for kids to learn important life lessons by playing baseball," said Tony Clark, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman and a trustee of the Major League Baseball Players Trust. "This grant will help ensure that future generations remember the heroic accomplishments of players like Satchel Paige, Cool Papa Bell, Double Duty Ratcliffe, and, of course, Buck O'Neil."
"The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is excited to receive this generous grant from the Major League Baseball Players Trust," said Bob Kendrick, director of marketing for the Museum. "We know how much the players care about the game, and how dedicated they are to providing opportunities for children to play baseball in a safe and fun environment. This grant will go a long way in helping the Museum fulfill that desire and help realize Buck O'Neil's dream of creating a Baseball Academy to teach kids important life lessons through baseball."
On behalf of all Major Leaguers, Derek Jeter (New York Yankess), Ryan Howard (Philadelphia Philles) and LaTroy Hawkins (Colorado Rockies) are scheduled to participate in the formal presentation of the grant to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum during its annual Legacy Awards program on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 7 PM CT, at the Gem Theater in Kansas City, MO. For information or to order tickets, please call the museum at 816/221-1920.
Through the Players Trust, Major Leaguers contribute their time, money and celebrity to call attention to important causes affecting the needy and to help encourage others to get involved in their own communities. In partnership with Volunteers of America, the national human service organization, the Players Trust created and helps administer the Action Team, a national youth volunteer initiative currently inspiring the next generation of volunteers in Boston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland (ME), San Francisco and Seattle. For more information on the Major League Baseball Players Trust, please visit MLBPLAYERS.com.
|
|
