The Mariners Wives are bringing back the popular “Favorite Things” Auction for the first time since 2019 to showcase their spouses on field and off the field interests and give lucky fans a chance to be the highest bidder and take the basket of their favorite Mariner home.
Mariners Wives Charities
The Mariners Wives are dedicated to making an impact in the Seattle community by working with a variety of youth-oriented organizations. Throughout the season, the Mariners Wives volunteer their time by engaging in hospital visits, providing makeovers, facilitating art therapy projects, helping raise funds for Mariners Care, and more. The primary goal of Mariners Wives Charities is to provide support to a variety of organizations through a dedication of time, resources, and effort both at the ballpark and in the surrounding community.
In 2019, the Mariners Wives set a goal to collectively volunteer one hour for every game in a Major League regular season. The Mariners Wives exceeded their original goal of 162 hours by collectively volunteering over 201 hours throughout the season.
A Year in Review: 2019
Seattle Children's Hospital
Playroom Art Therapy
The Mariners Wives volunteered in the Seattle Children's Playroom multiple times during the 2019 season and facilitated art therapy projects for children undergoing medical treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital. The Mariners Wives helped children in the Playroom decorate and accessorize Mariner t-shirts and baseball caps.
Challenger Little League
Play Ball
On May 18, the Mariners staff, broadcasters, players, families, and Mariner Moose hosted the second annual Play Ball event with Challenger Little League by bringing the big-league experience to young ball players. Challenger Little League is adapted baseball for differently abled athletes ages 5-22. Forty-eight Challenger athletes and their families gathered at Garfield Playfield to play a one-hour game with the help of the Mariner Moose, broadcasters, players, and staff who helped them at the plate and in the field. Mallex Smith, Omar Narvaez, Brandon Brennan and Mike Wright were all on field to help the Challenger athletes have the big-league experience. Additionally, some of the Mariners Wives were on the field assisting the young sluggers.
On July 7, 2019 the Mariners hosted Challenger Little League teams at T-Mobile Park for a one-hour adapted baseball game prior to the Sunday home game. Mariners broadcasters and production crew worked together to provide an on-field experience just like the Mariners enjoy on the MLB stage. Mariners players, their wives, and their families all joined on field during the Challenger game and helped the athletes hit, pitch, and run. Mariners Wives and families served as "buddies" in the outfield and infield.
Ronald McDonald House
Ballpark Dinner Night
On June 26, 2019 a group of Mariners Wives and Mariners Front Office team members rolled up their sleeves and cooked dinner and dessert for 110 patients and families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Seattle. Ronald McDonald House in Seattle provides more than 28,000 nights of housing a year for families with children receiving treatment at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Mariners Pizza Night
On September 6th, the Mariners Wives hosted a pizza night for Ronald McDonald House families and patients. Mariners Wives and staffers provided and served up hot pizza and dessert to families to help brighten their Friday evening.
Northwest Harvest
Fight Hunger Night Benefitting Northwest Harvest presented by 97.3 KIRO FM
On June 1, Mariners Care and 97.3 KIRO FM hosted Fight Hunger Night, an annual food drive to benefit Northwest Harvest. The mission of Northwest Harvest is leading the fight for hungry people statewide to have access to nutritious food while respecting their dignity and promoting good health. The Mariners Wives helped support Northwest Harvest by collecting monetary donations from fans prior to the game. Mariners fans contributed over $2,000 in food and cash donations, providing over 6,810 meals through Northwest Harvest.
Seattle Children's Hospital
Reverse Signing Event with the Hanigers
On August 8th, Mitch and Amanda hosted Seattle Children's patients and their families at the ballpark for a special "reverse" signing event. Mitch and Amanda had baseball cards made with each patient's photos, "stats," and favorite things. Mariners players such as Dee Gordon, Kyle Seager, and Daniel Vogelbach joined Mitch in a pre-game event where the big leaguers asked the patients for their autographs. The children and their families got to chat with Mitch and Amanda, other Mariners players, and Mariner Moose and swap autographs pre-game. Families were then invited on field to watch Batting Practice and even play catch with Mitch.
Teammates For Kids: Hunger Intervention Program
On August 27th, Marco and Monica Gonzales and Sam Tuivailala and Vanessa Alvarez spent the afternoon serving over 50 lunches to youth participating in the Hunger Intervention Program. In partnership with Northwest Harvest, Teammates for Kids, and the Home Plate Project Mariners Players and their significant others provided lunches and Mariners backpacks to all young students ages 6-13 and supplemented the operating costs of providing meals to students who live in communities that experience food scarcity.
Humble Design
On August 23, a group of the Mariners Wives spent the day helping a local Seattle family transition back into a new home after experiencing homelessness. The Mariners Wives partnered with Humble Design, an organization that serves individuals, families, and veterans emerging from homelessness by transforming their empty house into a warm, welcoming and uplifting home with donated furniture and household goods. The group decorated the home of a local family, stocked their fridge and pantry, and welcomed them into our community.
Mariners Care
Mystery Bag Sale
On June 21, the Mariners Wives sold Mystery Bags containing a baseball autographed by one of the 2019 Seattle Mariners. Thanks to all participating fans the Mystery Bag sale raised $12, 600 for Mariners Care. Mariners Care is the Mariners non-profit foundation that helps raise funds for a variety of youth-oriented community organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Mariners Wives "Favorite Things" Basket Auction
On August 9th, the Mariners Wives auctioned off their husband's and significant other's "Favorite Things Baskets" to benefit Mariners Care. Baskets included autographed memorabilia, snacks, movies, and other items that helped fans better understand the players' unique personalities. Thanks to all participating fans, $24,412 was raised for Mariners Care.
Treehouse
Treehouse Wearhouse Sorting
On August 27, the Mariners Wives volunteered at Treehouse, an organization committed to helping Washington Youth in foster care have the tools they need to succeed in order to graduate at the same rate as their peers. Treehouse offers Washington foster youth access to the Warehouse, a free store where youth in foster care and their caregivers can shop for high quality new and like-new clothing, shoes, school supplies, toys, books, free tickets to events and other essentials. The Mariners Wives volunteered by sorting and packaging donations received for the Warehouse.