(L to R) Major League Baseball Umpires Laz Diaz, Chris Segal and Erich Bacchus take time out to deliver joy (and 100 Build-A-Bear furry friends) to young patients at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. (Photo credit Ken Blaze)
Children in hospitals have received a Build-A-Bear from MLB Umpires
This young patient got a high five from Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider (Photo credit Ken Blaze)
Every year over the Fourth of July holiday, thousands of fans flock to the ballpark. But for kids in the hospital, they can’t go to the games or see fireworks, so the Major League Baseball Umpires bring the festivities to them.
The MLB Umpires make an annual visit to Cleveland Clinic Children’s, and each year, they deliver cuddly Build-A-Bear® furry friends to the children. This year, they came just in time for the Fourth of July holiday, and they brought american flags, red, white and blue swag and 100 Build-A-Bears for kids undergoing treatment at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Laz Diaz, Chris Segal and Erich Bacchus, three of the umpire crew members working games in Cleveland, took time out to be with the kids and to brighten their day.
Slider, the Cleveland Guardians‘ loveable mascot, joined in the fun!
The visit was featured during the Cleveland Guardians’ broadcast.
It also was spotlighted on WKYC, WEWS and WJW!
“There is nothing more American than baseball and the Fourth of July, and with the 250th anniversary of country, this is an extra special year,” said Jennifer Skolochenko-Platt, Executive Director at UMPS CARE Charities. “We wanted to bring this fun to kids facing medical challenges and to give them a chance to experience their own Fourth of July party.”
This visit to Cleveland Clinic Children’s marks the 248th delivery of Build-A-Bear® furry friends that UMPS CARE Charities since the program was created in 2006. Including the visit today, UMPS CARE will have delivered more than 25.290 Build-A-Bear® stuffed toys to children in hospitals across the country and in Canada.
UMPS CARE Charities wants to thank our friends from the Arby’s Foundation and the Flynn Group for their volunteer and financial support to make this visit possible. Grants from the Arby’s Foundation have been essential to making this program grow.
Special thanks to the Arby’s Foundation, whose generous grants have made visits like this one possible. We loved having the extra help from volunteers from the Flynn Group, which has grown into the largest franchise operation in the world, with more than 2,900 Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Panera, Arby’s, Pizza Hut, Wendy’s, and Planet Fitness locations across 44 states and now, three countries. The Flynn Group’s support center is based outside of Cleveland. (Photo credit Ken Blaze)