This story was excerpted from Mark Bowman’s Braves Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ATLANTA -- As we await Thanksgiving, here is a look at some of the community outreach programs the Braves shared with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

It was heartwarming to see Joshua, a 14-year-old fan, spend a day at the ballpark with Tyler Matzek. The two met last year, while Joshua spent 100-plus days at CHOA dealing with the several different genetic disorders that were diagnosed at a young age. Matzek provided a tour of the bullpen and stayed with the family during batting practice.

Some of the other events included:

March 11
Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies were among the Braves who welcomed James, a 7-year-old cystic fibrosis patient, to the team’s Spring Training facility. James received a personalized Braves jersey and experienced the thrill of playing catch with Acuña, who is his favorite player. Albies, Orlando Arcia and Travis d’Arnaud also visited with the young fan before that day’s game against the Twins.

May 29
Charlie, an 11-year-old leukemia survivor, experienced his wish when he got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Braves clubhouse before seeing the Braves play the Nationals. He met Michael Harris II in the clubhouse, played catch with Austin Riley on the field and remained on the field during batting practice.

July 23
Chipper Jones created some smiles when he provided a surprise VIP meet-and-greet to Baylor, an 8-year-old with cystic fibrosis. Baylor toured the clubhouse and had a chance to spend time with the iconic Hall of Famer.

Sept. 3-5
The Braves highlighted their partnership with CHOA with the Braves Kids Campaign. Thanks to the 50/50 raffle held on game nights and a mystery baseball sale, more than $236,000 was raised to help the children who depend on CHOA.

Sept. 8
The Braves celebrated Childhood Cancer Awareness Day by bringing more than 200 young cancer survivors and fighters to Truist Park, where they received complimentary admission, a T-shirt and a pregame celebration in the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta Hope & Will’s Sandlot. Caleb, a 14-year-old lymphoblastic leukemia patient, threw the ceremonial first pitch before that day’s game against the Blue Jays.

Spencer Strider and A.J. Minter visited CHOA’s Northside Hospital location that same week to donate a Nintendo Switch to the young patients.

Earlier this month, the Braves announced plans for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park. The dedicated family space, set to open before the 2025 season, will be relocated to the left-field plaza between Truist Park’s left-field gate and third-base gate.

This area will accommodate more than twice as many families as the existing Hope & Will’s Sandlot, which is where children previously had the chance to enjoy batting machines, zip lines and other carnival-like games.

“A day at the ballpark is one of the most fun and meaningful experiences families share, and we were very cognizant of that when we designed Truist Park,” Braves president and CEO Derek Schiller said. “Hope & Will’s Sandlot has been one of the most popular attractions at Truist Park from the first day we opened our doors. As demand in the space increased, we went back to the drawing board with our partners at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, who are the foremost experts in pediatric health, to create a new and enhanced space that will accommodate even more families and help them build a lifetime of memories.”

Features of the new Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park will include:

• More than 30,000 square-feet of space dedicated to creating a safe and fun experience for kids of all ages
• Reimagined kids’ zone with fan-favorite rock-climbing tower and other interactive play experiences
• BLOOPER’s Clubhouse for fans to meet BLOOPER and take photos during the game
• Hope & Will’s Sandlot, a kid-sized ball field featuring a scaled model of Truist Park’s outfield wall for organized and pick-up games
• Great lawn with seating to play and relax
• Collapsible batting cages for fans of all ages to practice their swing

“Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is excited to renew our partnership with the Braves and continue our support for families throughout Braves Country,” CHOA chief administrative officer Linda Matzigkeit said. “Children’s is not only the leading place for pediatric care, but we are also fully dedicated to improving the lives of children in our community. The new Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park provides a great opportunity for us to deliver on that commitment to be a part of kids’ lives -- both when they are sick, and when they are healthy.”