Each year, the Houston Astros baseball club dedicates time off the field to give back to Houstonians.
Behind the scenes, the Astros Community Development Department is devoted to helping with an assortment of community functions. They are the driving force in coordinating Astros youth programs, donation requests, player visits and many other projects.
Get Involved with Little League
“Grand Slam for Youth Baseball (GSFYB) is one of the larger Astros community programs,” Todd Fedewa, business communications director says. Partnered with Minute Maid, it is a four-part program for boys and girls in the Houston area to learn and experience baseball as well as self-confidence and teamwork. In 2004, the Astros and Minute Maid refurbished the Northeast Family YMCA Youth Baseball Field, according to Hometown Highlights, the Astros’ community development newsletter. One youth field will be renovated per year over the next two decades. All local teams are encouraged to apply by contacting the Astros. A selection committee then visits each field to decide which is best qualified.
Hero in all of us
Astros also recognize people within their community making a difference. Astros Hometown Heroes is designed to distinguish someone in the community who helped in astonishing ways.
Visit the Astros website, www.astros.com, to nominate someone in your neighborhood or community that has made a difference. Last year, there were three Hometown Heroes chosen. Each winner was a special guest of the team for a game. Winners also threw out the first pitch. “The players are very generous in the community project the club sets up. They participate in many different things, including visits to the hospital or helping with a food drive,” Fedewa says.
A team for the community
In the last three years, Astros in Action have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to worthy causes such as the Sept. 11 fund and Tropical Storm Allison victims. Helping field the dreams of Houston, Astros in Action’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in the community through education, health and spiritual endeavors. They sponsored countless community events in 2004. Astros in Action have the ACTION TEAM, a group of community volunteers to assist. For more information on how to become a part of the ACTION TEAM, contact astrosinactionfoundation@astros.com.
Standing out for the children
Although the Astros are devoted to helping the community as a team, there are a few players that have their own foundations, including Roger Clemens with the Roger Clemens Foundation, Craig Biggio as the national spokesperson for the Sunshine Kids and Lance Berkman with Berkman’s Bunch.
The Astros open their season against the St. Louis Cardinals April 5 at Minute Maid Park. For more information on how to support your Houston Astros in their 2005 season, visit www.astros.com. H
