Major League Baseball umpires Chris Conroy and Shane Livensparger met with young patients at Boston Children’s Hospital to deliver 100 Build-A-Bear Workshop® furry friends, outfits, activity books and more to young patients undergoing treatment. These kids and their families really loved the experience and their spirits were lifted by the visit. Chris and Shane are working the series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox this week at Fenway Park.
In addition, the umpires welcomed some patients in the Seacrest Studio, a broadcast media center that provides programming across the hospital, including on the television in every patient’s room.
This delivery at Boston Children’s Hospital marks our 219th visit to a children’s hospital since our program’s inception in 2006. Including this visit, UMPS CARE has now delivered 22,265 Build-A-Bear® furry friends to children undergoing medical treatment in pediatric hospitals across the country and in Canada.
“The Major League Baseball umpires are thrilled they were able to come to Boston Children’s Hospital and deliver Build-A-Bear® furry friends to kids who need a dose of joy while they are undergoing treatment,” said UMPS CARE Charities Executive Director Jennifer Skolochenko-Platt. “The MLB umpires created UMPS CARE as a vehicle for giving back to the community, and this visit is one of the ways the umpires show that helping people is an easy call.”
Special thanks to our partners at Eisai, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Umpire Association (MLBUA) and our donors for their financial and volunteer support for the Blue for Kids hospital program. Employees from Eisai helped stuff goody bags for this visit in addition to serving as volunteers for the visit today.
Photo Credit: Amanda Sabga
