MLB, clubs to wear "gold" on Sept. 1 to promote fight against childhood cancer
Major League Baseball today announced that for the third consecutive year MLB Clubs will dedicate a special "Childhood Cancer Awareness Day" at ballparks on Saturday, September 1st in recognition of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In partnership with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), MLB and MLB Clubs will raise awareness for the fight against childhood cancer by having Major League players, coaches, umpires and grounds crew members wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children aged 15 and under in the United States. Every year, an estimated 300,000 new cases of cancer affect children under the age of 20 worldwide.
Through this effort, Clubs may choose to partner with local nonprofits, including hospital partners or organizations focused on childhood cancer. Clubs and players may also donate tickets, ballpark suites and funds to Stand Up To Cancer or local partner organizations. Club activations include pregame ceremonies, first pitches, hospital visits, special batting practice t-shirts, and more.
In collaboration with Major League Baseball and Starlight Children's Foundation, hospitals selected by many Clubs will each receive a donation of 200 Club-themed Starlight Gowns, which replace traditional hospital garments with high-quality, comfortable and brightly colored gowns for children undergoing treatment. MLB donated an additional 3,000 Starlight Gowns to Clubs to distribute to local children's hospitals or hospital pediatric cancer care units.
Clubs on the road on Saturday, September 1st, may select another home game to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Day. Below are a few examples of unique Club activations:
• Atlanta Braves: On Saturday, September 1st, the Braves will host a pregame party for cancer fighters, survivors and their friends and family members. The party will include refreshments, face painters and a DJ. All fighters/survivors are invited to parade around the warning track pregame. Leading up to September 1st, the Atlanta Braves Wives will host a fundraiser for local childhood cancer-focused nonprofits including Rally, CURE, Curing Kids Cancer and Camp Sunshine. The Braves will have an on-field check presentation with kids from each nonprofit, with the Braves Wives presenting the final fundraising number.
• Baltimore Orioles: On Friday, September 14th, Orioles players, employees and mascot will attend Johns Hopkins Children's Medical Center.
• Chicago Cubs: As part of the Cubs' "Let's Go Gold" day at Wrigley Field, the team will again host pediatric cancer patients for a day full of unique experiences, including pregame dugout visits, player meet-and-greets and patients standing alongside players during the national anthem. The team will have one pediatric cancer patient deliver the rosin bag and throw out the first pitch. Additionally, net proceeds from the Cubs' 50/50 raffle on this day will be split among players' charities serving children battling pediatric cancer, including the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, Jon Lester's NVRQT campaign, Joe Maddon's Respect 90 Foundation and the Brian Duensing Foundation. Earlier in the day, the Cubs also will make a visit to Advocate Children's Hospital. In addition, the Cubs will host Cancer Awareness Night and donate a portion of net proceeds to the American Cancer Society.
• Cincinnati Reds: Reds players will visit Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center on Tuesday, September 11th and Wednesday, September 26th.
• Cleveland Indians: On Monday, September 10th, the Indians will visit Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital.
• Colorado Rockies: On Friday, September 7th, Rockies players and their spouses, Rockies mascot Dinger and front office executives will pay a visit to Children's Hospital Colorado.
• Kansas City Royals: On Thursday, September 13th, current Royals and alumni will visit the University of Kansas Health System.
• Los Angeles Angels: On Thursday, September 13th, the Angels will pay a visit to Children's Hospital of Orange County.
• Los Angeles Dodgers: On Monday, Aug. 27th, Dodgers alumni Dennis Powell and Billy Ashley visited the pediatric unit at Cedars-Sinai to deliver Dodgers-themed Starlight Gowns.
• Milwaukee Brewers: On Saturday, September 15th, the Brewers, Aurora Health Care, Northwestern Mutual and West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, along with several community partners including The MACC Fund, Alex's Lemonade Stand and Gold in September, will raise awareness for Childhood Cancer research and treatment with a stadium-wide, navy-and-gold visual. Additionally, the Brewers will collaborate with the American Cancer Society to host 'Coaches vs. Cancer Night.' Fans who purchase a 'Coaches vs. Cancer Night' ticket package will receive an Ed Sedar mini-bobblehead, featuring the Brewers third base coach in purple sneakers. All ticket package purchasers will be invited to walk the warning track in celebration of their support in the fight against cancer and the Brewers will make a donation to the American Cancer Society for every ticket package sold. The Brewers will also visit the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin on Saturday, September 8th.
• New York Mets: On Thursday, September 8th, the Mets will host a junior Mets clinic with pediatric cancer fighters, survivors and siblings at Citi Field. The Mets will also distribute 500 game tickets to various hospitals in the area serving pediatric cancer patients and their families. On Thursday, September 13th, the Mets will visit Cohen Children Medical Center.
• Oakland Athletics: On Friday, August 31st, the A's will visit University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children's Hospital.
• Philadelphia Phillies: On Saturday, September 1st, the Phillies will host Nemours Childhood Cancer Awareness Night during their matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Players will wear special "We Play In Memory Of…" t-shirts during batting practice, and a portion of the proceeds from a special Theme Night ticket purchased will benefit childhood cancer research through the Nemours Foundation. As part of the evening, more than two dozen local children battling cancer will take part in major league moments created just for them, including taking to the field with players during a heartwarming "Lineup of Courage" before the National Anthem. Additionally, the Phillies have several #BeBold #PhilliesGoGold events dedicated to Childhood Cancer Awareness throughout the month, including a #BeBold #GoGold Kisses for Kyle fashion show featuring child patients and their siblings walking the runway with Phillies and media celebrities on Thursday, September 13th. Also in mid-September, players and the Phillie Phanatic will team up with the Starlight Foundation to make a special delivery of fun hospital gowns for pediatric patients at Nemours/Alfred I DuPont Hospital for Children.
• San Francisco Giants: On Saturday, September 1st, the Giants will partner with Buster Posey, his wife Kristen, Toyota and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Children's Hospital for a series of activations. Activities will include a home plate ceremony with childhood cancer patients and their families, a special meet and greet for the patients and their families with the Poseys and the raffling of Buster's very own Toyota Tacoma, which will benefit The Cancer and Blood Disease Program at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. The Giants will also offer a special ticketing package that includes a game ticket and a limited-edition Pediatric Cancer Awareness Buster Posey Glove Statue. Proceeds from every Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day special event ticket will go directly back to providing grants to research hospitals and charitable organizations that support children diagnosed with pediatric cancer in an effort to enrich their lives. Additionally, the Giants will visit UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital on Tuesday, September 4th.
• Texas Rangers: On Tuesday, September 4th, the Rangers will visit Medical City Children's Hospital.
Recent childhood cancer awareness activations by Clubs have included special pediatric cancer awareness batting practice t-shirts, online campaigns to empower fans to become fundraisers for pediatric cancer research and donations to local children's hospitals. MLB and Clubs have supported the fight against cancer through a variety of initiatives for many years. As Stand Up To Cancer's founding donor, Major League Baseball has provided both financial support (more than $40 million) and opportunities to raise awareness for Stand Up To Cancer's efforts by encouraging fans around the world to get involved. MLB has recognized SU2C at its jewel events since the 2009 World Series.