Sep 22 2009
Umpires Reach Out To Cincy Children
UMPS CARE Charities, the official charity of Major League Baseball umpires, brought umpires Randy Marsh, Angel Hernandez, Marvin Hudson, Lance Barksdale and James Hoye — along with Gapper, the mascot of the Cincinnati Reds — to the Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center to visit the young patients and try to brighten their day. Also with the umpires: a complete Build-A-Bear Workshop for the kids.
The umpires set up in an activity room with the Workshop and spent time with each patient. They presented a choice of Build-A-Bears, asked the children which outfits they wanted and helped them dress the bears. They engaged the children and their parents in conversation about baseball and other topics. While the patients waited their turn, Gapper entertained them with antics, horseplay and whistles.
“The umpires were great with the kids,” said Lisa Hall, operations coordinator in the division of child life at the hospital. “There are a lot of groups I bring in where I have to coach them along a bit. The umpires felt very comfortable going up to the kids and being around them. And Gapper has been coming to the hospital for a long time — he’s always great.”
Hernandez, Barksdale and the other Major League Baseball umpires are involved year-round in fundraising and support for UMPS CARE Charities. The organization purchases all the bears and clothes itself, and its fundraisers include a Run for Bears in conjunction with the Baltimore Marathon on October 10, a golf tournament and a 100-hole golf marathon on November 11 in Arizona. For more information about any of these events, or to learn how to make a donation or pledge for a participating ump, visit http://www.UmpsCare.com.
One of the other efforts of UMPS CARE Charities is providing tickets to baseball games for children awaiting adoption, along with a behind-the-scenes tours of stadiums.
