UMPS CARE Charities delivers 100 Build-A-Bears to kids in Chicago – closing in on 20,000th stuffed bear milestone!

(L to R) Clint Vondrak, John Libka, DJ Reyburn and James Hoye, along with Chicago White Sox mascot, Southpaw, deliver joy to a young patient. 

UMPS CARE Charities and the umpires working the Chicago White Sox series against the Texas Rangers delivered 100 Build-A-Bear Workshop® to young patients undergoing treatment at UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital. All four umpires working the series – James Hoye (crew chief), DJ Reyburn, John Libka and Clint Vondrak – spent time with kids and their families and joining in the fun was none other than White Sox mascot Southpaw.

This event marks the 196th time that MLB umpires have delivered Build-A-Bears® to kids in hospitals since the program’s inception in 2006. UMPS CARE has distributed nearly 20,000 Build-A-Bears® to kids across the country and in Canada for this program. Including this visit at Comer Children’s, UMPS CARE has delivered 19,965 furry friends and tons of joy to kids who need a dose of joy!

“The Major League Baseball umpires know that helping people is an easy call, and that is why they take time away from the baseball field to give back to the communities in which they work,” said UMPS CARE Charities Executive Director Jennifer Skolochenko-Platt. “When UMPS CARE Charities brings Build-A-Bear® furry friends to kids undergoing hospital treatment they are bringing kids a much-needed dose of joy and a little bit of baseball magic to them and their families. We are delighted that we could return to Comer Children’s to make that magic happen.”

Special thanks to our partners at the Arby’s Foundation, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Umpire Association (MLBUA) and to longtime UMPS CARE supporter Melanie Ahern for their financial and volunteer support for the Blue for Kids hospital program. Thanks also to the staff at UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital!