White Sox Calendar of Events | Field of Greens
A Walk Down Memory Lane | 2016 SoxFest
CHICAGO WHITE SOX COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER | VOLUME 10 | FALL 2015
BEYOND DIAMONDTHE
SOX SERVEWEEKPAGE 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
While service to the community is a year-round effort, the Chicago White Sox choose one week per season to celebrate
Sox Serve Week – the organization’s annual fundraising and community outreach campaign. Formerly known as Charities
Week, 2015’s rendition of the campaign involved a host of different initiatives to engage fans, players and front office
members to give back. In addition to touching lives through special community outreach events, the campaign, held
August 24-30, raised nearly $200,000 for CWSC.
HOME RUNS HIGH FIVES&CWSC CELEBRATES A SUCCESSFUL SOX SERVE WEEK
FIELD OF DREAMS CLINIC
White Sox players Jose Abreu and
Gordon Beckham and coach Mark
Salas joined the Bulls/Sox Academy
during a baseball clinic with 40
Special Olympics athletes – assisting
the aspiring athletes with their hitting,
throwing and fielding skills.
HOME RUN FOR LIFE White Sox
players welcomed White Sox fan Bradley
Godish – a five-year-old with leukemia – as he
rounded the bases on Super Hero Night with his
twin sister and stem cell donor, Charlotte.
MAJOR LEAGUER FOR A DAY Amateur City Elite
(ACE) players Jordan Rogers
and Tommy Washington
enjoyed a day in the life
as a member of the
White Sox, touring the
clubhouse, participating
in batting practice and
receiving advice from
White Sox players.
MAJOR LEAGUER FOR A DAY Amateur City Elite
(ACE) players Jordan Rogers
and Tommy Washington
enjoyed a day in the life
as a member of the
White Sox, touring the
clubhouse, participating
in batting practice and
receiving advice from
White Sox players.
WHITE SOX DAY AT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICINE COMER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL The White Sox brought the ballpark to Comer Children’s
Hospital, as Avisail Garcia, Dan Jennings, Jose Quintana
and Carlos Sanchez visited more than 80 patients during
a day of fun, autograph signings and much more.
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GONE FISHING WITH YOUTH SERVED BY THE USO White Sox players Zach Duke, Adam Eaton, Adam LaRoche
and Tyler Saladino spent an afternoon fishing with eight youth served by USO Illinois, catching fish and making memories
at Northerly Island.
HOME RUNS HIGH FIVES
The week-long campaign also included raffles and auctions,
giving fans the opportunity to win various promotional items,
unique Sox experiences and memorabilia. Special thanks to
Magellan Corporation, MillerCoors and Wintrust Financial and
to the many volunteers who contributed to the success of
Sox Serve Week.
PLAYERS’ FAVORITE THINGS
The wives of current White Sox players put
together baskets representative of their husbands’
favorite things. Fans had the opportunity to bid on the
baskets, raising nearly $10,000 for CWSC.
KABOOM! PLAYGROUND BUILD AT PRIMO CENTER The White Sox partnered with KaBOOM! to build a brand new
playground at the Primo Center for Women and Children in
the North Lawndale community. Players Tyler Saladino and
Trayce Thompson and assistant hitting coach Harold Baines
were among the 200 volunteers who joined us for
the inspiring build.
KIDS TAKE THE FIELD CWSC invited 2015 grant
recipients to participate in Sox Serve Week, as youth
representing seven organizations “took the field”
with White Sox players and greeted them at
their positions before the game.
GONE FISHING WITH YOUTH SERVED BY THE USO White Sox players Zach Duke, Adam Eaton, Adam LaRoche
and Tyler Saladino spent an afternoon fishing with eight youth served by USO Illinois, catching fish and making memories
at Northerly Island.
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WHITE SOX IN THE COMMUNITY
JULY 23 – The White Sox Volunteer Corps assisted at the 2015 Special Olympics Chicago Golf Skills event at Marquette Park. Volunteers worked alongside the 137 Special Olympics athletes and 29 coaches at skills stations, and helped distribute lunch and awards to athletes.
JULY 30 – The Volunteer Corps continued its annual support of the Girls in the Game summer camp at Union Park. This camp provides a safe place for young athletes to learn important lessons on how to be a leader, make smart decisions and stay safe while also playing new sports and making friends.
AUGUST 15 – White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon and Southpaw joined the Volunteer Corps as they completed beautification projects and spent time with over 30 families at the Elliott Donnelley Youth Center for an end-of-summer barbeque.
AUGUST 18 – As part of Ronald McDonald House Charities’ (RMHC) Meals from the Heart program, the Volunteer Corps prepared and served dinner to families staying at the RMHC near Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, which provides a home away from home to families of children receiving medical services at the Central DuPage Hospital.
SEPTEMBER 19 – Volunteer Corps members sorted through donated books at Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Forest, which redistributes books to at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children.
SEPTEMBER 14 – Adam LaRoche was recognized as the White Sox 2015 Bob Feller Act of Valor nominee for his ongoing support of the military community. This includes his role with the White Sox True Heroes program, which provides wounded service mem- bers and their guests a special VIP experience at the ballpark.
SEPTEMBER 16 – White Sox closer David Robertson was recognized as the White Sox 2015 Roberto Clemente Award nominee. David and his wife Erin started the High Socks for Hope Foundation after a deadly tornado ripped through David’s hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The mission of the foundation is to help those affected by tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters.
SEPTEMBER 29 – The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) recognized Geovany Soto as the White Sox Heart and Hustle Award recipient.
SEPTEMBER 23 – In recognition of Hunger Action Month, Volunteer Corps members repacked donated food at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
SEPTEMBER 26 – The Volunteer Corps continued its annual partici-pation at the Special Olympics Bocce Competition at McGuane Park by serving as court officials, assistant officials and score keepers.
SEPTEMBER 27 – The PAWS Rescue Recovery Center/Spay Neuter Clinic welcomed Volunteer Corps members to join the agency for a day. Volunteers helped organize and distribute Pet Food Bank donations, completed basic cleaning, clinic duties and laundry, and even had time to play with the pets in the dog and cat rooms.
OCTOBER 3 – Volunteers Corps members partnered with Big Shoulders Fund at St. Gabriel for a morning of painting, cleaning, landscaping and organizing. Big Shoulders serves nearly 21,000 students at 82 needy inner-city schools.
OCTOBER 16 – Over 50 members of the Volunteer Corps partnered with Chicago Cares to assist with beautification projects at Kanoon Magnet Elementary School in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INITIATIVES
SEPTEMBER 15 – Chicago Police Officer Darlene Rodriguez was the proud winner of the White Sox themed 2015 Mazda 6 iSport, courtesy of CJ Wilson Mazda. The 2015 car raffle raised over $42,000 for CWSC.
Car Raffle
Elliot Donnelley Youth Center
Bob Feller Act of Valor Award
Roberto Clemente Award
CHICAGO WHITE SOX CHARITIES (CWSC) EVENTS
VOLUNTEER CORPS EVENTS
Special Olympics Chicago
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WHITE SOX IN THE COMMUNITY
FLOW’S BUDS – Tyler Flowers invited youth from Mercy Home for Boys and Girls to four White Sox games in August and September. Flow’s Buds – a partnership between Mercy Home and Tyler and Nancy Flowers – is focused on helping Mercy residents excel in school. For every White Sox win, the Flowers pledge $1,000 to support the education costs of residents at Mercy Home.
TRUE HEROES – Throughout the season, White Sox players welcome members of our Armed Forces who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. These “heroes of the game” are invited to meet team members during batting practice and then are honored by all fans in a special on-field acknowledgment during the third inning of a White Sox game.
SEPTEMBER 11 – The White Sox partnered with USO Illinois for an appreciation luncheon at the ballpark for more than 100 active military personnel in recognition of 9/11. White Sox pitcher John Danks welcomed the group and individually met and thanked attendees for their service. Beggars Pizza and PepsiCo donated food and drinks for the luncheon, while 30 Volunteer Corps members donated their time to volunteer.
USO Luncheon
JULY 18 – The White Sox welcomed 28-year-old Kris Grahnke and his friends as special guests at the 2005 World Series Reunion celebration. Kris – who was diagnosed with ALS at the age of 27 – shared with us his story and love of the White Sox, especially the 2005 team. As a White Sox VIP guest, he had the opportunity to take a photo with the 2005 team, enjoy the game from a luxury suite and meet several 2005 team members.
AUGUST 2 – During a visit to University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital earlier in the season, White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia gave his jersey to a young patient named Nolan. Nolan wanted to return the favor and attended the game to present Avisail his little league jersey. Honored by the gesture, Avisail treated Nolan to a pre-game tour of the White Sox clubhouse.
AUGUST 10 – Colombia native Juan Carlos used baseball – specifically the success of fellow Colombian and White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana – as motivation to recover from a stroke he suffered at the age of 17. Juan recently visited Chicago and was surprised with a private meet-and-greet with Quintana, during which he was pre-sented with an autographed jersey.
SPECIAL EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 11 – While attending his first White Sox game, Carmelo Escutia was photographed – and later featured on Facebook – with a poster saying he had just beat cancer. The White Sox invited him back as a special guest to honor his tremendous defeat, which included the opportunity to meet White Sox players Jose Quintana and Avisail Garcia.
SEPTEMBER 14 – Darnell Cantave and his family enjoyed a one-of-a-kind experience at the ballpark as Darnell was granted his Bear Necessities re-quest of meeting his favorite baseball player – White Sox ace Chris Sale. Sale spent the afternoon with Darnell and his family, giving him a private tour of the clubhouse and even announcing “play ball” with him at the start of the game.
OCTOBER 4 – The White Sox wel-comed young White Sox fan Mary Cate Lynch to U.S. Cellular Field on behalf of Choose Kind Day – an anti-bullying campaign encouraging children to be kind to one another. With friends, family and supporters in attendance, Mary Cate took the field and threw a ceremonial first pitch in honor of the special day.
Exclusive videos from many of these special events are available at
/soxstories
MILITARY OUTREACH
ABREU’S AMIGOS – White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu hosted groups of Abreu’s Amigos – students from Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago – to three games in July and August. The students were personally welcomed by Abreu and also received valuable social skills lessons from school instructors that ac- companied the students to the games.
JULY 11-13 – Jose Abreu sponsored Los Habaneros, a Little League baseball team from Cuba, to compete in the Disney International Salute to Baseball tournament in Orlando, Florida. Abreu donated the resources and equpiment for their participation in the tournament, and also welcomed the Little League team to a game in Chicago and a tour of U.S. Cellular Field.
AUGUST 3 – Chris Sale, Alexei Ramirez and Adam Eaton visited patients at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital. The players posed for photos, signed autographs and distributed gifts to patients and their families.
WHITE SOX PLAYERS IN THE
COMMUNITY
Carmelo Escutia and Jose Quintana
2005 World Series Reunion
Flow’s Buds
Darnell Cantave
Mary Cate LynchMary Cate Lynch
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Chicago White Sox Charities held its annual Field of Greens Celebrity Golf Tournament,
presented by Miller Lite, at Harborside International Golf Course on July 20. Notable
guests such as Jermaine Dye, Bo Jackson and Robin Ventura joined more than 250
golfers and celebrities, raising more than $100,000 to support pediatric cancer research
and treatment programs at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital
and Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
WHITE SOX HIT THE LINKS AT
FIELD OF GREENS
ROBIN VENTURA
BO JACKSON
JERMAINE DYE
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At the outset of the 2015 season, Chicago White Sox
Charities knew there was an opportunity to celebrate a
special anniversary for Sox fans. While 10 years have
passed since the 2005 World Series win, fans still share
a burning passion for the team that brought a
championship to the South Side for the first time since
1917. Given the tall task of giving the fans a celebration
to remember, CWSC delivered.
After launching major initiatives such as the Legacy Brick
Program and Championship Giving campaign, CWSC
set its eyes on the year’s biggest commemoration of
the anniversary: World Series Championship Reunion
Weekend. Wrapping up a weekend full of memories,
“A Season to Remember: A Night with the 2005 World
Series Champions” provided the exclamation point on
the celebration. Held at the historic Chicago Theatre, fans
took in one-of-a-kind memories from many of the 2005
team members themselves.
Comcast SportsNet Chicago anchor Chuck Garfien and
local comedian Pat McGann moderated conversations
at the event, asking questions that sparked remarkable
stories from the players. Videos also provided footage
with exclusive takes on 2005 highlights by various team
members, including former White Sox pitcher Mark
Buehrle and catcher A.J. Pierzynski – both active players
who were not able to attend the weekend’s festivities.
The end result was an emotional night for those in
attendance. The crowd consisted of many life-long White
Sox fans who remember the 2005 season as a dream
come true. Allowing fans to relive what they describe as a
dream is no simple job, but CWSC was able to find a way
to do so.
A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANEFANS AND FORMER PLAYERS TAKE
JERMAINE DYE
PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Since 1990, Chicago White Sox Charities (CWSC) has been dedicated to raising funds for organizations leading
the fight against cancer, dedicated to improving the lives of Chicago’s youth through education, providing
health and wellness initiatives, and those offering services to children and families in crisis.
7
333 West 35th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60616
312-674-1000
Passion. Pride. Tradition.
JANUARY 29-31, 2016HILTON CHICAGO
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