PHOENIX/ MARCH 29, 2018 – For many in the world, access to clean drinking water can mean walking hours to the nearest source. With that in mind, Major League Baseball players have teamed up with Phoenix-based non-profit, Food for the Hungry (FH), to raise money through the Striking Out Poverty campaign to bring much-needed infrastructure improvements to countries where FH serves.
To date, ten players from five different teams have committed to the campaign which encourages fans to join them in raising funds to provide access to clean water in communities across the world, with targeted projects in the Dominican Republic (DR). Baseball fans can support the program and their favorite players by going to http://www.pledgeit.org and typing ‘Striking Out Poverty’ into the search bar. As an incentive, baseball memorabilia is available along with a donation.
“Our goal is to have baseball bring hope and help to some of the most impoverished areas of the world,” said FH Global Ambassador Roberto Clemente Jr, son of MLB Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. “We saw last season how a few players working with their fans could make a difference and now this year, we have a movement. MLB players are coming together to make a life-changing impact to communities by bringing water purification systems, community centers and potentially a local baseball program to areas in the DR and beyond that are truly hurting. It is an honor to see how we can join forces to help those who need it most.”
In 2018, Big League Impact, a nonprofit led by St. Louis Cardinals’ pitcher Adam Wainwright, that is dedicated to saving lives, restoring dignity and instilling hope in local communities and around the globe, will be matching donations up to $50,000.
“Seeing so many of my teammates come together to support this cause has been incredible!” said Wainwright, who also participated in Striking Out Poverty last season raising over $31,000. “My wife and I have had the honor to witness the good that Food for the Hungry is doing in the DR and we look forward to seeing players & baseball fans everywhere come together to make a big impact this season.”
The following MLB players are participating in Striking Out Poverty this year: Arizona Diamondbacks Nick Ahmed; Milwaukee Brewers Chase Anderson; Oakland Athletics Liam Hendriks; St. Louis Cardinals Mike Mayers, Sam Tuivailala, Michael Wacha, Tyler Lyons, Miles Mikolas and Luke Weaver; and Seattle Mariners Dee Gordon.