(L to R) Derek Thomas, Lance Barksdale and Ryan Wills – members of the Major League Baseball Umpire crew working the Boston Red Sox series against the Seattle Mariners – stopped by Boston Children’s Hospital to deliver Build-A-Bear® fun to young patients. (Photo Credit Cindy Loo)
Children in hospitals have received a Build-A-Bear® from MLB Umpires
Lance Barksdale, Ryan Wills and Derek Thomas – members of the Major League Baseball Umpire crew working the Red Sox series against the Seattle Mariners – took time out to meet with young patients at Boston Children’s Hospital and delivered 125 Build-A-Bear Workshop® furry friends, outfits, activity books and more to young patients undergoing treatment.
This delivery at Boston Children’s Hospital marks our 255th visit to a children’s hospital since our program’s inception in 2006. Including this visit, UMPS CARE has now delivered 26,065 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 Charities 20 years ago 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 goodie bags for this visit in addition to serving as volunteers for the visit today.