MLB Umpire Laz Diaz welcomes Lisa, Scott, Dashanique, and Donta to Citizen’s Bank Park for a game between the Blue Jays and Phillies. Lisa and Scott are caring mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the most effective youth mentoring organizations in the United States. BLUE for Kids recognizes the direct and lasting impact that adult mentors have in the lives of young people. Through the BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires provide memorable sports experiences to strengthen the mentor/youth relationship. About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Comments from Lisa Knoflicek:

Thank you so much for the BLUE for Kids baseball experience. We all had an amazing time. Dashanique and Donta really enjoyed getting to go on the field and meet umpire Laz Diaz. Mr. Diaz was educational, very fun and inspirational. Dashanique now wants to start playing softball! The kids loved the signed baseballs and Philles hats. The game was great with an awesome Phillies win, despite the rain. Dashanique's favorite part was "seeing the guy hit all those home runs". Its not often you get to see a player tie a club record for RBI's! And I kept telling her every time Jayson Werth was up to bat, that no one gets home runs every time! Donta loved the Philly Phanatic. Please thank Umpire Diaz for taking the time to talk to Dashanique and Donta. Thanks so much to Umpire Diaz, the Phillies, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and BLUE for Kids. This is a memory we all will treasure forever. Thanks! Lisa, Scott, Dashanique, and Donta.

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Special thanks to:

• Beth Paladino and the entire Phillies community relations staff. See how the Phillies are making a difference in the Philadelphia and surrounding communities. Phillies Community Overview


• Mentors Lisa and Scott Knoflicek for serving the all important role of youth mentor and for sharing in a unique baseball experience with the kids.
  
• Adrienne Hessert of Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern Pennsylvania for identifying two deserving matches for the game.

Labels: bbbs, crew, diaz, mlb, phi

MLB Umpires Laz Diaz and Bill Welke welcome Jonathan, Mario, Delores, and Gwendolyn to Citizens Bank 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/

GUEST COMMENTS

"We had fun and our seats were great! Everyone was so kind. We enjoyed the tour and the umpires because they took time to explain a few things to us. We want to thank BLUE for Kids, Beth Paladino of the Phillies, Ms. Gwen and Ms. Delores for taking us to the game, but especially the umpires for their time. We hope to get another chance to go and this time we know the Phillies will win. Go Phillies!!" - Jonathan and Mario

"We had a wonderful time accompanying Jonathan and Mario, and we enjoyed the game ourselves. We feel the beauty of it all is the "collaborative effort" the agency workers put forth to share this opportunity with Wendy's Wonderful Kids. We salute BLUE for all that they do to enhance the lives of children." - Gwen and Delores

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Beth Paladino and the entire Phillies Community Relations team for assistance at the ballpark.
• Delores Brown and Gwendolyn Tunnell for taking Jonathan and Mario to the game.
• Tabor Children's Services, Inc. in Philadelphia and The Dave Thomas Foundation for working with us to provide experiences for children in foster care awaiting adoption.

Labels: crew, diaz, mlb, phi, welke, wwk