Five stars of the Washington Nationals give back to their fans and community
Victory comes on two fronts for the Washington Nationals this spring. They’re scoring home runs on the diamond in the thick of their great season, while also giving back to the community. Very active individually and as a team, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation – re-launched by the Lerner family in 2007 – allows children to learn the great American pastime from the pros while also participating in after-school educational programs. Through the foundation, the Nats are focusing on children’s health, education and recreation as they work to improve the lives of families throughout the area. The creation of the Washington Nationals Pediatric Diabetes Care Complex at Children’s National Medical Center and the Youth Baseball Academy as well as an active Neighborhood Initiative that includes partnerships with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington are just a few of their many philanthropic projects. The players pictured here, in the newly designed PNC Diamond Club, are going the extra mile. Outfielder Nyjer Morgan volunteers with the Kidney Foundation and serves on the their honorary board. He began working with them when his three-year-old cousin was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumor. Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, along with his wife Maribel, formed the Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez Foundation in 1993, to assist families whose children are battling cancer. Matt Capps, who recently lost his father, will be starting a scholarship in his name at his former high school in Georgia. Adam Kennedy and Ian Desmond, both new to Washington this year, are already active with the Dream Foundation, working with the Children’s National Medical Center. Washington is lucky to have such ambassadors.
[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/11689840[/vimeo]
Nyjer Morgan, Matt Capps, and Adam Kennedy
Nyjer Morgan, Matt Capps, Adam Kennedy, Ivan Rodriguez, and Ian Desmond
