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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER CELEBRATING $55 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING VOL 6, ISSUE 2 • SEPTEMBER Letter from TOM MEEKS ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The alarm clock goes off together. Parents and children have a place to make CHAIRMAN at 6 am on a chilly spring new memories. Coaches will teach youngsters the KEN KENDRICK Saturday, but you’ve importance of teamwork, good sportsmanship and PRESIDENT already been awake for an comradery. It is truly a point of pride for the entire hour, waiting for the first community. MICHAEL KENNEDY glimpse of daylight. Today VICE PRESIDENT is the day…FINALLY! Your Another Foundation event that I am particularly DERRICK HALL new uniform is pressed and proud of is the D-Backs Race Against Cancer. This TREASURER ready. Your glove has been annual springtime event includes a 5K race and a carefully and methodically one-mile Family Fun Walk through the streets of TOM HARRIS broken in since you first downtown Phoenix, beginning and ending at Chase SECRETARY spotted it under the Field. Since its inception in 2013, this event has DEBBIE CASTALDO Christmas tree. Your bat has seen enough of the grown each year and has raised over $1,200,000 to ADVISORS batting cage and is ready for action. It’s Opening benefit Arizona non-profit organizations that provide Day! screening, treatment and support for those dealing DEAN SHORT with all types of cancer. As you step out onto the pristine, freshly mowed turf, BOARD OF DIRECTORS you think to yourself, “how was I lucky enough to Runners and walkers from the local community as MARC ASHTON get here, to be able play on this incredible field?” well as across the country have said this event is one BRIAN R. BOOKER You take a deep breath, check the positions of your of their favorites. With sponsors like the University AMY COHN teammates and then hear the greatest two words in of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and sports, “Play Ball!” The pitch is thrown and the first Banana Boat as well as a huge corps of volunteers J. ERIC GUDIÑO game on Paul Goldschmidt Field has begun! and corporate race teams, the D-Backs Race Against GARRY HAYS Cancer is quickly becoming one of the premier race DR. MICHAEL HILGERS Since 1998, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation events in the Valley of the Sun. CULLEN MAXEY has built or refurbished 41 baseball and softball fields throughout Arizona and has given thousands As the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation celebrates BRAD NELSEN of boys and girls the opportunity to experience their more than $55 million in charitable giving in our JIM SCUSSEL own Opening Day dreams. The “Diamonds Back” 20th year, we continue to look for new ways to field building program is one of many ways that improve our communities throughout Arizona. The ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS FOUNDATION the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation gives back Foundation focuses its efforts on three main areas EXECUTIVE COUNCIL to the community. I am fortunate to have been of need: homelessness, indigent healthcare and TAMMY BAKER TOM MEEKS part of the fields design team since its inception, children’s programs of all types. In addition, the beginning with Matt Williams Field in 2000. The Foundation continues to create strategic programs DEBBIE CASTALDO JUDD NORRIS locations of the fields are determined through a that address the needs of our community including grant process and the design and construction of the veterans, police, teachers, and firefighters - just to MARK CAVANAUGH PAUL ORTIZ fields is a partnership of talented local contractors name a few. HAMILTON ESPINOSA MIKE REINA and businesses. With financial support from Arizona Public Service and Diamondback players, the design- Sincerely, LISA FACCIO MICHAEL ROSS build team turns dreams into reality, complete with new lights, electronic scoreboard, fencing, backstops VICKI FIORELLI RACHEL SAHLMAN and dugouts. As each field is completed, the Arizona TOM HATTEN DENNIS SCULLY Diamondbacks Foundation, D-Backs front office and the baseball player to whom the field is dedicated MARC ISAACS MAX SIRSTINS celebrate with a wonderful unveiling ceremony to Tom Meeks the community. I have attended almost all of the Member, Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation JULIE JONES MO STEIN dedications and best part is to see the kid’s eyes Executive Council Senior Project Manager, Civil & CHRISTINA MARTINEZ ROB VANDERHEI light up when they see the new field for the first time. Environmental Consultants, Inc. With each new field dedication, a community comes CULLEN MAXEY KERRI WHITE CELEBRATING $55 MILLION IN CHARITABLE GIVING SHAWN MCCLAIN dbacks com/community EVENT SPOTLIGHT DBACKS TEAM PLAYER GIVEBACK EVENT D-BACKS INTER-TRIBAL YOUTH BASEBALL Over 175 D-backs Employees spent several days at the new Valencia Newcomer School from July 9-11 to help AND SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT AND prepare for the grand opening on August 8. The team NATIVE AMERICAN RECOGNITION DAY moved furniture out, cleaned, painted and transformed classrooms into a haven for the students. A library and teacher’s lounge makeover, cafeteria and nurse’s area painted, creation and stocking of a new clothing closet, and a transformation of a classroom into an indoor PE room, equipped with paint and flooring and them some was all completed. D-BACKS INTER-TRIBAL YOUTH BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT The D-backs hosted the 20th Annual Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball and Softball Invitational, recognizing the Native American community from May 31 – June 3. The games are played at Salt River Fields, the only complex built on tribal land. The tournament spans four days of morning and evening play, culminating with an exciting championship game held inside the stadium. This summer, more than 1,170 participants competed in the tournament, featured 78 teams, all traveled from five states - Arizona, New Mexico, California, Oklahoma. Since year one, there have been over 1,687 games played, with 899 teams and 13,485 players. A surprise visit by D-backs players always caps off the week for the athletes and this year was no different! Pitcher Brad Boxberger spent the day out at the fields with the baseball and softball players, teaming up with them in the dugouts, supporting them and sharing memories through the sport. With each year comes hope of celebrating a Major League debut of one of the Native American athletes. NATIVE AMERICAN RECOGNITION DAY, PRESENTED BY GILA RIVER HOTELS AND CASINOS On June 3, the D-backs hosted Native American Recognition Day, presented by Gila River Casinos. The festivities began when the gates opened and included performances throughout the ballpark – including one on the field – by performance groups including, Native American drum groups, dancers, vocalists, royalty and more. All participants from the Inter-Tribal Youth Baseball and Softball Invitational were recognized during a pre-game ceremony that included a parade around the warning track of the field. PAGE 2 VOL 6, ISSUE 2 • AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2018 dbacks com/community OFFICIAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER OF THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT D-BACKS SAFELITE AUTOGLASS SUMMER OF SAFETY The D-backs and Safelite have stepped up to the plate again this summer to help keep kids safe through the D-backs and Safelite AutoGlass Summer of Safety Program. The program will focus on different areas of child safety including swim safety, bicycle safety, and anti-bullying. The program aims to keep kids in the game all summer long by raising awareness and providing valuable information, instruction, and resources to the community. FREE CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK – SUNDAY, APRIL 29 UPCOMING PROGRAM – “BE A FRIEND” (BUDDY) BENCHES On April 29, the D-backs, Safelite AutoGlass, the Phoenix Fire Department, Every summer the D-backs partner with Safelite AutoGlass on a series of and the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety teamed up for a free programs to support safety for children. Together the D-backs and Safelite car seat safety check in Laveen. Technicians were on hand to check car have supported thousands of swimming lesson, car seats, new bikes and seats to make sure they were properly installed. Seats that did not meet helmets, immunizations, smoke detectors and more. safety requirements were replaced free of charge. As parents and partners in the community, we recognize that cyberbullying BICYCLE GIVEAWAY AND SAFETY EVENT – FRIDAY, JUNE 15 and bullying are additional areas where children face tremendous risk. On Friday, June 15 the D-backs and Safelite gave away free bikes and This year the D-backs and Safelite have teamed up with Be Kind People helmets to the members of the Boys and Girls Club Colangelo Branch. Project to deliver a thoughtful and positive message in schools across Once the kids received their bikes and helmets, Phoenix Fire and Phoenix Arizona. In September and October, the D-backs, Safelite and Be Kind Police instructed the kids in safety drills in an obstacle course. Infielder People Project will deliver twenty-five “Be A Friend” (Buddy) Benches Ketel Marte took a whirl around the Bike Rodeo, which was impactful to to local schools. The “Be A Friend” benches are D-backs branded and the kids. funded by the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Safelite. Each will come with materials that align with the Be Kind People Project messaging DISCOUNT SWIM LESSONS and encourage each school’s commitment to implement the program in alignment with the Be Kind Pledge. The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and Safelite AutoGlass teamed up with the Phoenix Fire Department and City of Phoenix Aquatics to promote swim safety and expand access to swimming lessons for kids and adults! On top of normal pool hours in June and July, select City of Phoenix pools were open on weekends in August to offer expanded access to swim lessons for kids, teens, and adults.