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Major League Baseball Umpire and Devil Rays Mascot
Tampa, FL (July 19, 2007) —On July 27, Major League Baseball (MLB) Umpire Mark Wegner and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays mascot, Raymond, throw a party for pediatric patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital. Organized by BLUE for Kids, they will offer words of encouragement and distribute Build-A-Bear Workshop® stuffed animals to children coping with serious illnesses or a lengthy hospital stay. MLB umpires founded BLUE for Kids, a non-profit organization, in 2006. Big League BLUE Reach, the BLUE for Kids children’s hospital program, captures the spirit of the Build-A-Bear Workshop in-store experience and brings it to the hospital. For the first hour of the visit, Wegner and Raymond will walk room to room in the oncology unit to offer kids the choice of a pre-stuffed bear, puppy, kitten, or bunny as well as a choice in outfits for their new furry friend. Outfits include a Devil Rays baseball uniform, cheerleader, pirate, hula dancer, chef, and medical scrubs. For the second hour of the visit, Wegner and Raymond join with hospital staff and sponsor representatives of Bristol-Myers Squibb to throw a party in the playroom. Children from all over the hospital will be invited to visit for their choice in stuffed animals and outfit. Media are welcome to attend the party which starts at 11AM. Hospitals can be unfamiliar and uncomfortable places for children. Big League BLUE Reach is a fun and interactive event designed to reduce the stress that a family experiences when a child is hospitalized. Wegner and Raymond will be accompanied by Child Life Specialists during the visit. An essential part of the health care team, Child Life Specialists help children and families cope better with their medical treatment. They help children understand medical procedures through play therapy and often accompany them through the procedures. Child Life Specialists also offer psychological and emotional support to children and their families. Big League BLUE Reach is made possible through the generous support of caring corporate sponsors and individual contributors. Bristol-Myers Squibb is the presenting sponsor of Big League BLUE Reach. Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global pharmaceutical and related healthcare products company whose mission is to extend and enhance human life. The visit to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital marks the 14th hospital event by umpires since the Big League BLUE Reach program began last year. Already in 2007, umpires visited hospitals in Baltimore, San Diego, Oakland, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston. In addition to Tampa, events are scheduled in Denver, Washington D.C., St. Louis, and Augusta. More info: http://www.blueforkids.com/reach.htm. Note to Editors
About BLUE for Kids About Bristol-Myers Squibb About St. Joseph Children's Hospital of Tampa |
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