Major League Baseball Umpire Brennan Miller delivers Build-A-Bear® furry friends (and lots of smiles) to young patients at Children’s National Hospital (photo credit Mike Buscher)
With Halloween just days away, many kids are gearing up to go Trick or Treating. But for kids who are in the hospital, that might not be possible this year.
So UMPS CARE Charities, along with Major League Baseball Umpires Brennan Miller and Chris Segal, took time out to deliver 100 Build-A-Bear® stuffed toys to young patients at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
In addition, the umpires brought outfits for the new furry friends – including some Halloween costumes – along with baseball-themed activity books, crayons and crafts and more. Joining Brennan and Chris this year was Class AA Umpire Jon Forster.
Before the Halloween festivities began, the umpires spoke to young patients through the Seacrest Studios, an in-house broadcast media center.
Including this visit, UMPS CARE Charities, Major League Baseball Umpires have now delivered 24,590 Build-A-Bear® furry friends to children undergoing treatment in hospitals across the country and in Canada. Our visit at Children’s National Hospital will mark our 241st hospital visit since 2006. Next year will mark the 20th anniversary of UMPS CARE and our hospital program.
“The Major League Baseball umpires know that many young patients cannot go and trick or treat this Halloween, so they decided to bring the fun to the kids,” said UMPS CARE Charities Executive Director Jennifer Skolochenko-Platt. “The umpires know that helping people is an easy call to make, and they are excited to bring a dose of joy to these kids.”
Special thanks to our partners at Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Umpire Association and our UMPS CARE Charities donors for their financial and volunteer support for the Blue for Kids hospital program.
Thank you to Mike Buscher for capturing the special moments from the day, the staff at Children’s National Hospital and volunteers Roger Wolfe, Jennifer Akowskey and Rachel Henry!
If you want to bring comfort and joy to children this holiday season, please consider donating to our Holiday Hugs campaign! You can participate in this fundraiser as an individual or as a group to make an even bigger impact! All donations, up to $10,000, will be matched – dollar for dollar – by the Arby’s Foundation!
