MLB Umpire Marvin Hudson welcomes Laura, Samuel, Max, Kim, and Heather Angel Stadium as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America's foster care systems. Wendy's Wonderful Kids is the signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. Learn more at http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

GUEST COMMENT:

"Laura, Sam, and Max and I had a great time at the Angels game. In anticipation of the meet and greet, Sam committed the name "Marvin Hudson" to memory before we arrived at the stadium. Our group was given the star treatment when we got to go to the field and meet Marvin. Marvin was a pleasure to meet and he was great with the kids. He asked good questions and truly made them feel valued. At the kid's request, Marvin demonstrated how he makes the "safe" and "out" calls. After speaking with Marvin, the kids acknowledged it must be difficult to be an umpire, especially when people are booing. Laura, Sam, and Max decided that Marvin did an excellent job during the game.

When asked what the best part of the day was, Laura, Sam and Max unanimously agreed it was meeting Marvin and getting to go down to the field. All 3 kids were hoping all night to see a home run but were very understanding when it didn't happen, saying "it must be really hard to hit it out of the park." Lindsay, from the Angels, was wonderful and extremely helpful. We are so thankful for the opportunity to attend the game and meet Marvin. This was a memorable event for everyone and I am glad that these siblings got to share this experience. There was a professional photographer on the field and Lindsay said she would send you some pictures.

Thank you once again. We had a wonderful night." - Heather McCollum, Wendy's Wonderful Kids recruiter at KINSHIP CENTER.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Lindsay McHolm and the entire Angels Community Relations team for assistance at the ballpark. Lindsay, you have been an incredible help all season. You truly are a very special person and the Angels are very fortunate to have you.
• Heather McCollum and Kim Felder of Kinship Center for going above and beyond your professional role and serving as chaperones.
• Kinship Center in Salinas, California and The Dave Thomas Foundation for working with us to provide experiences for children in foster care awaiting adoption.
• Marvin Hudson for consistently asking "what else can I do?" to make a difference and for inspiring so many others.

Labels: crew, hudson, laa, mlb, wwk

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Umpire Jon Merry invited 2 mentor/youth matches of Big Brothers Big Sisters to Security Service Field on July 29, 2007 for a Big League Umpiring Experience. Mary Ann, Lauryn, Molly, and Unique tried on equipment, rubbed mud on baseballs, watched batting practice, met a pitching coach, and took some photos. The BLUE is an opportunity for kids and their mentors to learn, laugh, and have fun together - the chance to strengthen the mentor/youth relationship.

View a few photos on our Flickr page. Click Here for Photos!

Special Thanks To

• Ira Liebman (Sky Sox Community Relations) for assistance at the ballpark.
• Jan Jarrold and Meg Bunka (Big Brothers Big Sisters) for identifying two wonderful matches

Labels: bbbs, blue, cs, merry, milb

MLB Umpires Ted Barrett and Angel Hernandez welcome Sarah, Stacy, Matthew, and Zane to Coors Field as a part of BLUE Crew Tickets.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America's foster care systems. Wendy's Wonderful Kids is the signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. Learn more at http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Guest Comments
Thank you so much to umpires, Ted Barrett and Angel Hernandez, for making Matt and Zane's first Rockies game of the year truly a night to remember. Matt and Zane were in awe of you guys as you walked over to them and shook their hands. They were excited to receive official major league baseballs from you and they couldn't stop looking at them all night! One of the most memorable parts of the meet and greet was when you guys called over Jake Peavey from the Padres and the boys got to meet him. The seats were fabulous and the Rockies winning the game ended the night on a perfect note! The boys thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience. It was such a special night for all of us! - Sarah Hunter

Special Thanks To

• Dallas Davis (Rockies Community Relations) for assistance at the stadium.
• Sarah Hunter (Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter) for all that you do every day and for taking the boys to the game.

Labels: barrett, col, crew, hernandez, mlb, wwk

MLB Umpire Marvin Hudson invited 3 mentor/youth matches from Big Brothers Big Sisters to Petco Park in San Diego on July 21, 2007 for a Big League Umpiring Experience (BLUE). Jeff, Donovan, Jimmy, Tristin, Kevin, and Shawnee tried on equipment, watched batting practice from the field, rubbed mud on baseballs, and took a bunch of photos. Even a couple of players stopped by to see what the group was all about. The BLUE is an opportunity for kids and their incredible mentors to learn, laugh, and have fun together - the chance to strengthen the mentor/youth relationship.

View the event photos on our Flickr page. Click Here for Photos!

Event Comments

"Marvin, thank you for putting together an experience that will stay with us forever. You are unbelievable! Your enthusiasm throughout our time together, coupled with your warm personality made this a once in a lifetime adventure that will always bring back great memories." - Jimmy Fraser

Special Thanks To

• Nhu Tran (Padres Community Relations) for assistance at the ballpark.
• Amy Benson (Big Brothers Big Sisters) for identifying some great matches.
• Amy Rumbin, an awesome BLUE for Kids supporter, for helping with the event and taking photos.

Labels: bbbs, blue, hudson, mlb, sd

MLB Umpires Laz Diaz and Wally Bell welcome Ben, Xavier, Heather, and Greg to Fenway Park as a part of BLUE Crew Tickets. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is a non-profit public charity dedicated to dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America's foster care systems. Wendy's Wonderful Kids is the signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. Learn more at http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Event Comments

Heather Guyette

Even though the Red Sox lost yesterday, we had an AMAZING time! The baseball
experience was incredible. I would like to believe that for one day, while
taking in all of the sights and sounds of Fenway Park, Ben and Xavier felt like
two kids enjoying a ball game rather than two kids in foster care. As an agency
as well as a larger community, I strongly believe that we can offer waiting
children in foster care far more normalized experiences and yesterday's trip to
Fenway was just that sort of experience! While I cannot speak for Ben and
Xavier, I'm sure their feedback would be valuable for you as you assess the
experience and your work with the Dave Thomas Foundation.

Kate Dempsey of the Red Sox Community Relations group was welcoming and personable and escorted us directly on to the field where we stood in wonderment. We were greeted by umpire's Laz Diaz and Wally Bell who were warm, friendly, and genuinely invested in making the experience memorable for Ben and Xavier. I think the boys felt even more special when curious onlookers were not permitted to approach the umpires when they met with Ben and Xavier. Ben and Xavier marveled at the souvenirs that they were given by the umpires as well as a bag of Red Sox goodies from Kate. They pointed out their favorite players, prayed for a home run, sampled the concessions and wore their Red Sox gear proudly. The temperature neared 90 degrees and though acknowledging the heat, the boys did
not mutter a single complaint- with the exception of the game loss....They both
snored in the back seat on the way home.

Greg and I feel equally honored to have shared the game experience with Ben and Xavier. We are truly grateful for the invitation and would be delighted to provide any additional feedback that would make the continuation of the baseball experience possible. I believe that BLUE for Kids and The Dave Thomas Foundation have created something truly incredible.

Carolyn LaCaresse

I met with both the boys who went to the Red Sox game on July 15 and thought you would like their feedback. They were both thrilled at having gone down on the field and expressed their pleasure that other fans were looking at them, wondering what made them that important. Xavier stated that his favorite part was the autographed ball. Ben really enjoyed being able to watch a game, but wished David Ortiz had hit a homerun! Both boys said they wouldn't have changed anything about the game and realize that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. So thank you again for providing these deserving boys that chance to enjoy Fenway Park!

Special Thanks To

• Kate Dempsey and the entire Red Sox Community Relations team for assistance at the ballpark.
• Heather and Greg Guyette for taking time and being with the boys for this special day.
• Carolyn LaCaresse, Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter
• Robin Campbell, Connie Ackert, and Rita Soronen of The Dave Thomas Foundation for working with us to provide experiences for children in foster care awaiting adoption.

Labels: bell, bos, crew, diaz, mlb, wwk

Op-Ed Contributor
By FAY VINCENT
Published: July 9, 2007
Williamstown, Mass.

DURING Major League Baseball's All-Star Game tomorrow night, a rotund, grandfatherly man with a cherubic face, a ready grin and a sturdy, no-nonsense view of his responsibilities will umpire the game at home plate. There, he will properly be honored for breaking the record for the most years of service as a major league umpire. Bruce Froemming, now in his 37th year in the Show, has dusted off home plates, called them as he sees them, and dismissed the gripes of unhappy managers and players since long before all but a few of this generation of baseball All-Stars were born. But his remarkable achievement has, sadly, gone largely unnoticed.

That seems to be the lot of officials in all our sports. To some sportscasters and fans, the umps seem like the bases: necessary but not worthy of mention. Don't think the umps fail to notice that attitude. That's why Major League Baseball and other sports leagues need to institute an award for the best performance during the season by an official. A Most Valuable Official award, if you will. Such recognition for these essential and generally ignored participants in our sports is long overdue.

My father was a devoted sports official who spent time as a National Football League referee and who, well into his 70s, officiated at high school and college football and baseball games. If four children on a corner ever needed a ref or an ump for a game, he was always ready.

When I was child, my father once came home after a game with his head down, obviously unhappy with his work that day. When he told me he felt bad because he had "missed one," I knew that he had disappointed himself as well as the players who had counted on his infallibility. I also remember how appalled I was when I went to a football game with my father and some of the crowd yelled abuse at him as if he were some kind of ugly statue they could insult without restraint or any sense of civility.

When I watch baseball games on television, I notice how rarely the umpires are even introduced. I hear sharply edged criticism of missed calls and very little comment on the enormously high percentage of calls that turn out to have been properly made. In my time in baseball, I was regularly reminded how seriously officials take their work and how disappointed they are when things go badly. Imagine how you would feel if your mistakes were captured by cameras and routinely mocked by well-respected commentators.

In sports these days there are awards for virtually everything. But no major sport takes the time or care to pat officials on the back, to recognize the fine ones who do their jobs well and with the devotion we fans have come to expect. It's true that there have been mistakes and behavioral excesses by officials. We all know the umps don't get them all right. Some officials have become unduly confrontational and more conscious of the television cameras than they used to be. If we want to encourage the best behavior among officials, we should spell out the reasons we respect and admire those who do their jobs well.

I would hope such awards would over time come to be cherished by the recipients and acknowledged by the public. In baseball, the award might be named after the late Bart Giamatti, who as commissioner demonstrated great affection for "my umpires," as he called them.

Football officials, basketball refs, and baseball umpires are the keepers of order and civility. They know the rules and enforce them. Without them there can be no game because the rules define the contest and permit there to be a winner. So long as they do their jobs well, we may not even notice them. But we know how vital they are, and we would be sending them our thanks with this recognition of the best of them.

Fay Vincent was the commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1989 to 1992.

MLB Umpires Bob Davidson and Sam Holbrook welcome Chad, Marcus, Richard, and Ore to U.S. Cellular Field as a part of BLUE Crew Tickets. At right, Chad and Marcus join the umpires before the game.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Chad and Richard. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches caring adult mentors with at-risk youth. Read more about Big Brothers Big Sisters at http://www.bbbs.org/.

GUEST COMMENT:

"Marcus and I had a great time. I thank you all for allowing us to have this special moment." - Chad Simmons

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Danielle Disch and the entire White Sox Community Relations team for assistance at the ballpark.
• Christy Livingstone of Big Brothers Big Sisters for coordinating things from BBBS! Christy, you've been a huge help all year!
• Chad and Richard for taking the time to be a mentor.

Labels: bbbs, crew, cws, davidson, holbrook

MLB Umpires Fieldin Culbreth and Angel Hernandez welcome Nicholas, Deon, Oyewole, and Dashay to RFK Stadium as a part of BLUE Crew Tickets. Nicholas, Deon, Oyewole, and Dashay are mentor/youth matches with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Nicholas and Oyewole!

Special Thanks To

• Barbra Silva (Nationals Community Relations) for your assistance at the ballpark and with sending photos!
• James Culbertson for identifying the matches to attend the game.

Labels: bbbs, crew, culbreth, hernandez, mlb, was