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DETROIT -- The Tigers couldn't follow through on their hope to bring a World Series championship to Detroit after reaching the Fall Classic a year earlier. However, they brought plenty of hope to the Motor City this year, not just on the field, but in the community.
Curtis Granderson has become known for his charitable and community efforts, from helping the needy to helping students. The young center fielder earned the Tigers nomination for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award in just his second full season in the big leagues. He served as the face of what has become a team-wide effort to give back from the Tigers, who make a point to get every player involved in some way or another during the season.
"There's really nothing special," Granderson explained during the season. "Whether it's a neighbor, a family member or a friend, just somehow to go ahead and help, especially those in need, that's what my parents have been doing since I've been little. And I've been able to watch them do that."
Granderson has established his own foundation aimed at motivating children in the educational, artistic and creative aspects of their lives. He has not only visited schools around the Detroit area to stress the importance of education, he founded and sponsored a contest in the Detroit Public School district to encourage kids to submit their thoughts of baseball through art, essay or music. As a reward, he hosted more than 70 students at a Tigers game this season.
He has worked as the spokesperson for a partnership to provide free reading materials to fourth- through eighth-graders in Michigan through the Detroit Tigers Foundation, Detroit Free Press Newspapers in Education and Michigan K.I.D.S., Inc. Not only has the program distributed materials to more than 106,000 students in 75 Michigan counties, but Granderson has made storytelling visits to area schools. Nate Robertson and Fernando Rodney were among other Tigers to make school visits during the year.
Third baseman Brandon Inge and his wife, Shani, became heavily involved in the community early in his career when he lived in nearby Ann Arbor. Once he signed his first long-term contract last offseason, he seized the opportunity to make a $100,000 donation to Mott Children's Hospital, helping fund the construction of an activity center in the pediatric cancer infusion clinic in the new hospital building.
The infusion unit is where many children spend long hours for chemotherapy treatments. The activity center will allow the kids and their families to do arts and crafts, play computer games and celebrate birthdays. Later, the Inges held a contest among kids in the hospital to help name the center.
"I'm in that situation now where you can give back," Inge said last spring, "so you feel obligated to do something. We can help out families and children that are in need."
Inge made several visits to the hospital during the season. He's also actively involved in the Tigers Dreams Come True program. Likewise, closer Todd Jones and second baseman Placido Polanco visited young patients and their families at Detroit area hospitals, including Children's Hospital of Detroit. Jones also supports Special Olympics of Michigan through the Fielding Dreams program.
Baseball's Giving Spirit 2007 | MLB in the Community
Like Inge, American League batting champ Magglio Ordonez gives a portion of his contract for worthy causes. He makes an annual $100,000 donation to the Detroit Tigers Foundation for grants to Latin American students in the area to encourage further education. The money also goes to refurbishing youth baseball fields in southwest Detroit.
Catcher Vance Wilson was also heavily involved in programs during the season. He took part in the team's Boots n' Baseball party, which welcomed young cancer patients and their families to the park in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. He also helped the Tigers welcome 300 foster kids and families to the park as part of the Child Welfare League of America. Fellow catcher Ivan Rodriguez was a frequent visitor for young cancer patients during their trips to the ballpark.
The Tigers did their part to encourage donations from the community as spokesmen for various programs. Jones and Gary Sheffield helped raise awareness for Cornerstone Schools' ticket fundraising program during the summer. Justin Verlander took to the airwaves to help the American Red Cross in its Home Team campaign, raising money for vital local services.
Even head athletic trainer Kevin Rand and his staff donated their time and efforts during the season. Rand coordinates the Tigers' effort to promote skin cancer awareness and prevention through Play Smart When It Comes to the Sun. He also takes part in MLB's Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth, hosting kids from the American Diabetes Association and other groups at the ballpark in an initiative to educate youth on nutrition, injury prevention and fitness programs.
Beyond the individual efforts were team initiatives. Rodney, Jason Grilli, Macay McBride, Mike Rabelo and Ryan Raburn were among those taking part in the team's Gloves for Kids program, signing autographs in exchange for new and lightly used baseball equipment such as gloves, cleats, bats, balls and shin guards to donate to youth leagues and organizations. Carlos Guillen and Andrew Miller served as celebrity baristas at local Starbucks locations on one day during the summer to help raise money for the Detroit Tigers Foundation. Rodriguez, Ordonez, Guillen, Polanco and Joel Zumaya each purchased 50 tickets for underprivileged children to a attend a game during the Fiesta Tigres celebration.
Curtis Granderson has become known for his charitable and community efforts, from helping the needy to helping students. The young center fielder earned the Tigers nomination for Major League Baseball's Roberto Clemente Award in just his second full season in the big leagues. He served as the face of what has become a team-wide effort to give back from the Tigers, who make a point to get every player involved in some way or another during the season.
"There's really nothing special," Granderson explained during the season. "Whether it's a neighbor, a family member or a friend, just somehow to go ahead and help, especially those in need, that's what my parents have been doing since I've been little. And I've been able to watch them do that."
Granderson has established his own foundation aimed at motivating children in the educational, artistic and creative aspects of their lives. He has not only visited schools around the Detroit area to stress the importance of education, he founded and sponsored a contest in the Detroit Public School district to encourage kids to submit their thoughts of baseball through art, essay or music. As a reward, he hosted more than 70 students at a Tigers game this season.
He has worked as the spokesperson for a partnership to provide free reading materials to fourth- through eighth-graders in Michigan through the Detroit Tigers Foundation, Detroit Free Press Newspapers in Education and Michigan K.I.D.S., Inc. Not only has the program distributed materials to more than 106,000 students in 75 Michigan counties, but Granderson has made storytelling visits to area schools. Nate Robertson and Fernando Rodney were among other Tigers to make school visits during the year.
Third baseman Brandon Inge and his wife, Shani, became heavily involved in the community early in his career when he lived in nearby Ann Arbor. Once he signed his first long-term contract last offseason, he seized the opportunity to make a $100,000 donation to Mott Children's Hospital, helping fund the construction of an activity center in the pediatric cancer infusion clinic in the new hospital building.
The infusion unit is where many children spend long hours for chemotherapy treatments. The activity center will allow the kids and their families to do arts and crafts, play computer games and celebrate birthdays. Later, the Inges held a contest among kids in the hospital to help name the center.
"I'm in that situation now where you can give back," Inge said last spring, "so you feel obligated to do something. We can help out families and children that are in need."
Inge made several visits to the hospital during the season. He's also actively involved in the Tigers Dreams Come True program. Likewise, closer Todd Jones and second baseman Placido Polanco visited young patients and their families at Detroit area hospitals, including Children's Hospital of Detroit. Jones also supports Special Olympics of Michigan through the Fielding Dreams program.
Baseball's Giving Spirit 2007 | MLB in the Community
Like Inge, American League batting champ Magglio Ordonez gives a portion of his contract for worthy causes. He makes an annual $100,000 donation to the Detroit Tigers Foundation for grants to Latin American students in the area to encourage further education. The money also goes to refurbishing youth baseball fields in southwest Detroit.
Catcher Vance Wilson was also heavily involved in programs during the season. He took part in the team's Boots n' Baseball party, which welcomed young cancer patients and their families to the park in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. He also helped the Tigers welcome 300 foster kids and families to the park as part of the Child Welfare League of America. Fellow catcher Ivan Rodriguez was a frequent visitor for young cancer patients during their trips to the ballpark.
The Tigers did their part to encourage donations from the community as spokesmen for various programs. Jones and Gary Sheffield helped raise awareness for Cornerstone Schools' ticket fundraising program during the summer. Justin Verlander took to the airwaves to help the American Red Cross in its Home Team campaign, raising money for vital local services.
Even head athletic trainer Kevin Rand and his staff donated their time and efforts during the season. Rand coordinates the Tigers' effort to promote skin cancer awareness and prevention through Play Smart When It Comes to the Sun. He also takes part in MLB's Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth, hosting kids from the American Diabetes Association and other groups at the ballpark in an initiative to educate youth on nutrition, injury prevention and fitness programs.
Beyond the individual efforts were team initiatives. Rodney, Jason Grilli, Macay McBride, Mike Rabelo and Ryan Raburn were among those taking part in the team's Gloves for Kids program, signing autographs in exchange for new and lightly used baseball equipment such as gloves, cleats, bats, balls and shin guards to donate to youth leagues and organizations. Carlos Guillen and Andrew Miller served as celebrity baristas at local Starbucks locations on one day during the summer to help raise money for the Detroit Tigers Foundation. Rodriguez, Ordonez, Guillen, Polanco and Joel Zumaya each purchased 50 tickets for underprivileged children to a attend a game during the Fiesta Tigres celebration.
