Mets Community Insider

Mets outfielder Michael Conforto visited patients at the Cancer Center for Kids at NYU Winthrop on Long Island as part of his Conforto Cares program. Michael met with children at the outpatient pediatric oncology division as well as going to the main hospital. He put a smile on all the children's faces by playing games with them at the center, taking pictures, signing autographs and giving all the patients Mets-themed goodie bags.

Conforto Cares aims to bring awareness to pediatric cancer and the challenges the children and their families face. Throughout the season, Michael has brought children battling cancer and their families to the ballpark for an afternoon of fun and baseball. Many of the children and their siblings at the Cancer Center had already met Michael at Citi Field through Conforto Cares, so it was a wonderful chance for everyone to reconnect.

Mets players, coaches and front office staff visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland when the team traveled to Washington to play the Nationals. It has become a tradition for the Mets to host the annual barbeque lunch for hundreds of Wounded Warriors, active service men and women and their families as a way to say thank you for their service and sacrifice. Players signed autographs, posed for photos, shared a meal with the members of the military and even played them in a game or two of air hockey.

Mets players Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Kevin Plawecki went room to room in the hospital, spending time with soldiers who were injured overseas. Mets Chairman Fred Wilpon led the Mets contingent which included Manager Mickey Callaway, players, coaches and support staff.

Each guest received a Mets t-shirt, baseball cap and a special Mets challenge coin. And everyone went home with a smile on their face and new memories to savor.

Mets pitcher Steven Matz hosted the annual Big League Impact New York Fantasy Football draft at Citi Field. Jacob deGrom, Devin Mesoraco, Drew Smith and Jerry Blevins joined Matz in the league, picking players for their teams alongside fans who donated money to participate in the exciting event.

The participants will go head to head with the players in the upcoming season, competing to win a variety of prizes. Before the event, all the participants received an exclusive VIP tour of the Mets clubhouse given by Steven, signed baseballs from the players and got to take photos on the field before the draft. They also received tickets to that night's game against the San Francisco Giants.

More than $60,000 was raised for the Mets Foundation, Big League Impact and Matz's Tru32 initiative.

The Mets and Steven Matz hosted a special Tru32 event, presented by SecureWatch 24, to honor Air National Guard Master Sergeant and FDNY Lieutenant Christopher Raguso. The 13-year FDNY veteran and New York Air National Guard Master Sergeant passed away in a helicopter crash in March while serving in Iraq. Steven honored Chris's family and firehouse by inviting his wife, Carmela, and daughters, Mila and Eva, and 32 members from Engine 249/Ladder 113 in Brooklyn, for a special day at Citi Field. Carmela, Mila and Eva received personalized Mets jerseys and headed to the field for batting practice where they met several Mets players and coaches. Steven presented the firehouse with a framed team-signed jersey in honor of Raguso.

Tru32 is Steven's way of giving thanks to the true heroes of our community, first responders of the FDNY, NYPD and the military. Steven and the Mets invite 32 true heroes and a guest out to the ballpark to watch batting practice, and have a special meet and greet with Matz.

Members from the five branches of the U.S. Military were invited to Citi Field for the fourth annual Mets Military Softball Classic, presented by First Data. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard all competed in a round robin softball tournament on the field before a Mets game.

General Manager Sandy Alderson, a retired Marine, along with several Mets players greeted all the participants and presented each one of them with Mets Challenge Coins in appreciation for their service. Following all the action, members of military and their families enjoyed a buffet in the Bullpen Plaza. Each participant received an exclusive Mets Military t-shirt and tickets to the Mets game that night.