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Major League Baseball Umpires are proud to partner with The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) for our ticket initiatives. The leadership and all of their Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiters work tirelessly to find forever homes for children.

The DTFA will be honored by Congressional Quarterly (CQ) and The Creative Coalition with the Shining Star Award at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Read the press release

Labels: wwk

BALTIMORE--BLUE for Kids announced today that six running teams are in training for the 2008 Baltimore Marathon Team Relay taking place on Saturday, October 11th in Baltimore, Maryland. Teams hope to raise more than $10,000 for the BLUE for Kids children's hospital program in an effort they simply call a 'RUN FOR BEARS'.

Not only will runners 'RUN FOR BEARS', they will 'RUN WITH BEARS'. Runners will compete during the race carrying a Build-A-Bear Workshop teddy bear dressed in a Major League Baseball team uniform. In addition to the home area Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles, teams represented this year include the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and world-champion Boston Red Sox.

It's been a tough season for the Orioles and Nationals as both teams are in last place in their respective divisions. While they won't compete for a World Series championship in October, look for a fierce battle between the bear-dressed Orioles and bear-dressed Nationals during the Baltimore Marathon.

Regardless of who comes out on top in the race, children across the country will be the big winners. Since the BLUE for Kids children's hospital program started, over 2,800 children coping with cancer, blood disorders, and other serious forms of illness and injury have received a unique Build-A-Bear experience. Money raised in the Baltimore event will ensure many more experiences in 2009.

If you're in a position to do so, please visit the TEAM FUNDRAISING PAGE and make a stuffed animal donation in support of our runners. 2008 Baltimore Marathon Team Relay runners include Jeff Scheyer, Robin Brody, Kevin Conway, Katie Pearl, Brett Plano, John Petro, Rusty Harner, Cassie Hoffman, Gary Laios, Mike Yeager, Rob Albrecht, Betsy Albrecht, Trevor Albrecht, Ken Arimitsu, Matt Cillis, Jeff Reichert, Rachel Coning, Pippin Gilman, Debbie Harner, Susie Douglas, Christine Dearth, Jim Adams, and Samuel Dearth. THANK YOU ALL!

MLB Umpires Todd Tichenor, Gerry Davis, Brian Gorman and Bruce Dreckman welcome Julian, Aaron, Kim, and Phil to Dodger Stadium for a Dodgers game. Through the UMPS CARE Charities BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires provide VIP game experiences for children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoring programs.

MLB Umpires applaud the efforts of Wendy's Wonderful Kids adoption recruiters. Wendy's Wonderful Kids is the direct-service signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that combines the fundraising of Wendy's and its customers, aggressive grants management of the Foundation, and the talent of experienced adoption recruiters to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. Wendy's Wonderful Kids

A special thanks to Laura Levinson, Rhonda Robinson, and the entire Dodgers community relations staff for support of BLUE Crew Tickets. See how the Dodgers are making a difference in the community. Dodgers Community Overview

GUEST COMMENTS (from Kim)

Aaron, Julian, Phil and I had a GREAT time at the game yesterday. It was one of the most exciting games I have ever been to. Aaron and Julian are a little older (14 & 17) then I usually take but they have never had a chance to go to a live game let alone step on to the baseball field. They were more excited than the younger kids I've taken in the past.

Umpire Todd Tinchenor was so great with the boys! Also, Rhonda Robinson and Alyssa Shuman of the Dodgers gave us the best tour I've ever had at the stadium!

Thank you so very much for making such a wonderful experience happen for these boys! I know they will never forget it! Julian sent a text after I dropped him at the group home...THANKS A MILLION KIM!!! I had an awesome time!

Labels: crew, davis, dreckman, gorman, lad, mlb, tichenor, wwk

MLB Umpires Fieldin Culbreth, Gary Cederstrom, Jim Reynolds, and Tim Timmons welcome Keithen, Michael, Andrea, and Jaelyn to Rangers Ballpark for a Rangers game. Through the UMPS CARE Charities BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires provide VIP game experiences for children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoring programs.

MLB Umpires recognize the direct and lasting impact that adult mentors have in the lives of young people. Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the most effective youth mentoring organizations in the United States. About Big Brothers Big Sisters

A special thanks to Jenny Martin, Taunee Taylor, and the entire Rangers community relations staff for support of BLUE Crew Tickets. See how the Rangers are making a difference in the community. Rangers Community Overview

GUEST COMMENT (Michael)

Kiethen got a huge kick out of going down into the tunnel and out on the field. MLB Umpire Fieldin Culbreth was great. We threatened to heckle him during the game, and he said he'd halt the game and point us out to the entire stadium if we heckled him :) So of course, it was all I could do to keep Kiethen from doing that during the game. He had a great time.

Labels: bbbs, cederstrom, crew, culbreth, mlb, reynolds, tex, timmons

MLB Umpires Bob Davidson, Rob Drake, Andy Fletcher, and Alfonso Marquez welcome Arlvelt, Trevon, Beth, and Christina to Kauffman Stadium for a Royals game. Through the UMPS CARE Charities BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires provide VIP game experiences for children awaiting adoption and at-risk youth in mentoring programs.

MLB Umpires applaud the efforts of Wendy's Wonderful Kids adoption recruiters. Wendy's Wonderful Kids is the direct-service signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that combines the fundraising of Wendy's and its customers, aggressive grants management of the Foundation, and the talent of experienced adoption recruiters to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. Wendy's Wonderful Kids

A special thanks to Toby Cook, Ben Aken, and the entire Royals community relations staff for support of BLUE Crew Tickets. See how the Royals are making a difference in the community. Royals Community Overview

Labels: crew, davidson, drake, fletcher, kc, marquez, mlb, wwk