Tagged: Opening Day
“The House That Built Me”
I had an amazing blog entry written today, but I just erased it all. Why? Because I tried to get too wordy and too “deep” and that just caused the blog to seem fake. It might have won me a Pulitzer, but it didn’t fit my normal writing mood. I know if my mood changes, then my fans and followers would get upset and I would be stuck writing a blog that no one ever looks at anymore. I did keep the title of my blog entry the same, just so you can see how poetic I was probably going to get had I kept the original text. To be honest, I have no story or historic event in my life that could even relate to our recent Indians in the Community event held at Providence House. To try to create one just for point of reference would simply be an injustice to what the great people at Providence House stand for.
And with that…
The Cleveland Indians continued their April Indians in the Community program by volunteering at Providence House in Cleveland. Providence House is an organization that fights to end child abuse and neglect by protecting at-risk families, empowering families in crisis and building safe communities for every child. Located in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood, Providence House serves kids ranging from infants to 10 years old. Their hope is that children everywhere are raised in safe, loving families free from abuse and neglect. Since the creation of Providence House 31 years ago, they have become more than an emergency shelter for children; including case management and supportive services for both the children and their families.
The Indians front office volunteers included staff from varioius departments as well as Meryl Masterson (wife of Indians pitcher Justin Masterson), Jenna Gomes and her husband Yan Gomes (Indians catcher). We started off our morning touring the facility. From there, we were split into two groups. One group assembled intake bags, which are kitted items that each child receives upon arrival at Providence House and takes home when he or she leaves (toothbrush, 5+sets of clothes, shoes, etc.). The other group was able to play with the kids who are staying at Providence House on their new playground at the newly remodeled and expanded House.
The volunteer event took place just days after Indians 1B Nick Swisher and his wife Joanna generously donated $75,000 to Providence House during the pre-game ceremonies of Opening Day. The Swishers, known for their charitable efforts and contributions, have clearly brought their philanthropic ways here to Cleveland with them and for that, we thank them.
If you’d like to learn more about Providence House or would like to volunteer, visit http://www.provhouse.org. Thank you again to all who helped out and to the players and their wives for spending time volunteering on one of their few, precious off days!
“Oh well here, take this extra pair of gloves. My hands are starting to get a little sweaty.”
I remember growing up and getting my first baseball glove. I was in kindergarten and had just signed up for T-Ball. I didn’t know anything about baseball, but my older brother (who is only a year older than me) was playing and I wanted to be on the same team as him. I also knew going in that, because my older brother was left-handed and I was right-handed there was no way that I would get his hand-me-down glove. For once, I could get something new that didn’t belong to my brother first! My mom took us to the store to get my brother some new sweatpants and cleats and a new glove. I was, of course, getting his old sweatpants and cleats that he grew out of.
I was so pumped to go and pick out my glove when I noticed something. My brother, although left-handed for everything…EVERYTHING…picked out a right hander’s glove. It was then that I was informed that he was right-handed only when it came to throwing. We got home from the store and my mom handed me his old glove and that was that. But you know what? That was an amazing glove and it was my glove. I made it my own and took care of it, and it was a part of me as I learned the world of baseball. Plus, I didn’t have a growth spurt for about 3 years after that, so the glove lasted me quite a while.
The Cleveland Indians are partnering with KeyBank on a season long glove drive. The KeyBank Glove Drive started on Opening Day and will run until August 28. Here is what you have to do to participate: Bring a new or gently used glove to the next Indians game with you, take it to our Guest Services booth, and we’ll give you a ticket to the August 28th game as well as a voucher that allows you entry to a post-game autograph session by select Indians players that day! Plus, you’ll be entered in a drawing where you could win the opportunity to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the game that day!
You can also participate by bringing your glove to a local KeyBank and filling out an entry form. It’s that easy! All gloves will then be donated to Cleveland Baseball Federation and given to local youth to use while learning the game of baseball. So bring a new or gently used glove with you to the next Tribe game and instead of using it to catch foul balls in the stands, donate it to the KeyBank Glove Drive. Who knows? Your glove could get into the hands of the next Grady Sizmore…or the next Justin Sherman: Community Outreach blog writer and former T-Ball player! Either way, you’ll help connect with the next generation of baseball fans in our community!
Indians Off the Field 